Pentacel is the brand name for a combination shot containing DTaP, inactivated polio and Hib vaccines. This is a routine vaccine given to children younger than seven years of age, reports eMedTV.com. The diseases prevented by Pentacel include pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, diptheria, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Combination vaccines such as this one reduce the number of injections a baby has to receive. Pentacel is usually given four times in a baby's life. eMedTV.com states the series begins at two months and is repeated at four months, six months and again between 15 and 18 months of life. Side effects of the Pentacel vaccine are typically mild.
Common Side Effects
The most common side effects include fussiness, irritability, inconsolable crying, lethargy or tenderness at the injection site. eMedTV.com indicates these side effects occur in 45.8 to 76.9 percent of cases. Swelling or redness at the injection site or a fever are other common effects of the Pentacel vaccine.
Serious Hazards
A high fever can be serious in children, especially during the first few months of life when the first injection is given. Your pediatrician may have different thresholds of fever that he considers to be serious. In many cases, a fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in infants younger than 12 months should receive medical treatment. Other serious effects of the vaccine include changes in behavior (not including fussiness), seizures or persistent crying that lasts three hours or more.
Severe Side Effects
An allergic reaction to the Pentacel vaccine is possible and may be life threatening. The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services (HLTHSS) indicates signs of such hazards include hives, wheezing, trouble breathing or swelling of the face or mouth. They also suggest shock is possible and is exhibited by paleness, limpness or lack of responsiveness. eMedTV.com indicates that in rare cases Guillain-Barre syndrome can result from the vaccine. Symptoms of this include weakness, tingling or paralysis of the face or body.
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