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What is Haemophilus influeanza type B?
Haemophilus influenzae type b is a bacterium (germ) that can cause serious diseases, especially in children under 5 years of age. Often called Hib, the disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis (an infection of the protective membranes surrounding the brain) before the advent of effective vaccines. Today, Hib meningitis is fatal for 2-5% of the children who contract it. While, 35% may develop forms of permanent brain damage, such as seizures, deafness, or mental retardation. Hib can also cause other diseases in children, some of which may have serious consequences. A few of these diseases are sepsis (an infection throughout the whole body that is often life-threatening), pneumonia, and pericarditis (an infection of the membrane surrounding the heart).
Who is at risk for Haemophilus type B?
Prior to the availability of a Hib vaccine, Hib disease affected primarily young children, with most cases occurring in infants between 6-11 months of age. Forty-seven percent of all cases occur by 1 year of age with the remaining 53% of cases occurring over the next 4 years. Among children under 5 years of age, certain children are at a higher risk of Hib disease:
Day-care attendees
Those in lower socio-economic groups
African-Americans
Native Americans
Caucasians who lack specific antibodies
Those in contact with household cases of Hib disease
Those with no spleen or a spleen disorder, sickle cell anemia, or immune deficiencies that lower the body's resistance to infection
How can you help protect your child from HIB infection?
The good news is that you can help protect your child from Hib disease. The Advisory Committee on immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that most children receive a series of Hib vaccinations. Talk with your doctor or healthcare professional about the risks and benefits of vaccination to help protect your child against the disease and its possible complications.
Other serious diseases that can be
Epiglottitis-infection and swelling of the epiglottis, the tissue in the throat that covers and protects the larynx during swallowing. Epiglottitis may cause life-threatening airway obstruction
Septic arthritis-joint infection
Cellulitis-blisters or sores on the face, head, or neck
Osteomyelitis-bone infection
While Hib infections can usually be successfully treated with antibiotics, a child may have to be hospitalized for 10-14 days. Some Hib infections, however, may not respond to antibiotics and may cause significant complications. For these reasons, it is better to try to prevent Hib disease than to treat it.
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