Engerix-B Pediatric and Food

• Generic Name: hepatitis b pediatric vaccine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Engerix-B Pediatric, Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent, Recombivax HB

Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus. Hepatitis B causes inflammation of the liver, vomiting, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Hepatitis can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis, or death.

Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver that is spread through blood or bodily fluids, sexual contact or sharing IV drug needles with an infected person, or during childbirth when a baby is born to a mother who is infected.

The Engerix-B Pediatric is used to help prevent this disease in children and teenagers.

This vaccine works by exposing your child to a small amount of the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Vaccination with Engerix-B Pediatric is recommended for all children beginning at birth, especially children and adolescents who are at risk of getting hepatitis B. Risk factors include: being born to a mother who is a hepatitis carrier; being on dialysis or receiving blood transfusions; living in an institute for the mentally handicapped; traveling to high-risk areas; living with a person who has chronic hepatitis B infection; and being of Native Alaskan, Indochinese, Haitian, or Pacific Island descent.

Like any vaccine, the hepatitis B vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.