Febrile seizures (
seizures associated with high fevers in young children) have been rarely linked to vaccines, including Pentacel. If your child has a tendency to get febrile
seizures, ask your healthcare provider if you should give an anti-fever medication such as
acetaminophen (
Tylenol®) or
ibuprofen (Advil
®,
Motrin®) to your child to help avoid this problem.
Some of the other rare but serious side effects that may occur with Pentacel include:
- A high fever
- Any unusual behavior changes (aside from the usual fussiness that typically occurs after vaccinations)
- A seizure
- Persistent, inconsolable crying lasting for three hours or more
- Weakness, tingling, or paralysis (which may be signs of Guillain-Barré syndrome).
Also, care must be taken when giving Pentacel to individuals with bleeding disorders or who are taking anticoagulant medications ("blood thinners"). In some cases, your child's healthcare provider may decide that the risks of Pentacel are not worth the benefits.
