Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis - dif-THEER-ee-a and TET-n-us and per-TUSS-iss vaccine - also known as DTP vaccine combined with Haemophilus b conjugate - hem-OFF-fil-us BEE KON-ja-gat vaccine - also known as Hib vaccine is a combination immunizing agent using to prevent illness causing by diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and Haemophilus influenzae type b - Hib bacteria. The vaccine works by causing the body to produce its own protection - antibodies against these diseases. This combination vaccine is also known as DTP-Hib vaccine.
Diphtheria is a serious illness that can cause breathing difficulties, heart problems, nerve damage, pneumonia and possibly death. The risk of serious complications and death is greater in very young children and in the elderly.
Tetanus - also known as lockjaw is a serious illness that causes convulsions - seizures and severe muscle spasms that can be strong enough to cause bone fractures of the spine. Tetanus causes death in 30 to 40 percent of cases.
Pertussis - also known as whooping cough is a serious disease that causes severe spells of coughing that can interfere with breathing. Pertussis can also cause pneumonia, long-lasting bronchitis, seizures, brain damage and death.
Infection by Haemophilus influenzae type b - Hib bacteria can cause life-threatening illnesses, such as meningitis, which effects the brain; epiglottitis, which can cause death by suffocation; pericarditis, which effects the heart; pneumonia, which effects the lungs; and septic arthritis, which effects the bones and joints. Hib meningitis causes death in 5 to 10% of children who are infected. Always approximately 30% of children who survive Hib meningitis are left with some type of serious permanent damage, such as mental retardation, deafness, epilepsy, or partial blindness.
DTP-Hib vaccine is available in the following dosage form:
Some commonly using brand names are:
In the USA
In Canada
Other commonly using names are DTP-HbOC , DTP-Hib and DTP-PRP-D .