1. OTC and Prescription Drug Abuse Slideshow
2. Sex-Drive Killers: Causes of Low Libido
3. Slideshow: Does Everyone Have Hemorrhoids?

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving this vaccine (Trihibit)?

Your child should not receive this vaccine if he or she has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine containing diphtheria, haemophilus, pertussis, or tetanus.

Your child should not receive this vaccine if the child has:

• severe or uncontrolled epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or
• if the child has received cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatment in the past 3 months.

Your child may not be able to receive this vaccine if he or she has ever received a similar vaccine that caused any of the following:

• a very high fever (over 104 degrees);
• a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain;
• excessive crying for 3 hours or longer;
• fainting or going into shock;
• seizure (convulsions); or
• Guillain-Barré syndrome (within 6 weeks after receiving a vaccine containing tetanus).

Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor if your child has:

• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or easy bruising;
• a history of seizures;
• a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain (or if this was a reaction to a previous vaccine);
• an allergy to latex rubber;
• a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
• if the child is taking a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin).

Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving this vaccine.

How is this vaccine given (Trihibit)?

This vaccine is given as an injection into a muscle. Your child will receive this injection in a doctor's office or other clinic setting.

The diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine is given in a series of shots. The first shot is usually given when the child is 2 months old. The booster shots are then given at 4 months, 6 months, and 12 to 15 months of age. Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.

Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much of this medicine to give your child.

It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring in a child who has a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.

Need help identifying pills and medications?
Use the pill finder tool on RxList.