Haemophilus
Influenzae Type B/HIB
DEFINITION:
A bacteria which can cause severe infections in children including
meningitis, pneumonia, epiglottitis, septic arthritis, cellulitis,
osteomyelitis, pericarditis and bacteremia or bacteria in
the blood stream.
SYMPTOMS:
The symptoms of H. flu Type B vary widely. The bacterium can
affect any part of the body and cause disease. Symptoms can
include fever, lethargy, irritability, cough, headache, joint
pain, difficulty breathing, stupor, coma, shock and shock
leading to death.
CAUSES:
This is a bacterial illness from the bacterium Haemophilus
Influenzae Type B.
CONTAGION:
The
bacterium is contagious through respirtatory transmission
and all exposed people should be treated prophylactically.
The incubation period is unknown as people can carry the bacterium
indefinitely without showing any symptoms. Children under
five years of age are at highest risk.
DIAGNOSIS:
Having a clinical suspicion of the illness by the symptoms
of the child helps to make the diagnosis. A culture of the
blood, urine, spinal fluid or joint fluid can be done which
will confirm the diagnosis.
TREATMENT:
The treatment of H flu Type B consists of intravenous antibiotics
for ten to fourteen days.
OUTCOME:
Once
contracted the illness can be very serious. Even with prompt
treatment, one out of every twenty children will die and four
out of twenty will be deaf, blind or mentally disabled. Others
will have small deficits in hearing, vision and motor skills.
DISCUSSION:
Haemophilus
Influenzae Type B is a devastating illness once contracted.
Early treatment is best but even with an immediate diagnosis
and prompt treatment, many children cannot be saved. Meningitis
or infection of the lining of the brain, can lead to a quick
death or long-term problems. The bacterium can invade any
organ in the body and cause disease. Once diagnosed, intravenous
antibiotics can be started. Family members should be treated
prophylactically with an antibiotic called rifampin. Close
contacts at school or daycare should be warned. The only way
to combat this illness is through vaccination. Prior to 1990,
there were close to 25,000 cases of Haemophilus Influenzae
Type B, 15,000 cases of which were meningitis, and about 500
deaths a year. After years of using the vaccine the rate has
decreased to less than 1,300 cases of H Flu Type B; 100 cases
of meningitis, and less than five deaths a year. The HIB vaccine
is given at two, four and six-months of age with a booster
dose at fifteen months. Any child over fifteen months who
has not received the vaccine will only need one dose. After
the age of five years the vaccine is not necessary. This vaccine
has worked extremely well in helping to quickly eradicate
this illness. There are no serious side effects to this vaccine.
ONE
DOCTOR'S OPINION:
The
vaccine for HIB has been incredible. In my professional career
I have gone from seeing HIB meningitis routinely to not seeing
one case in over seven years. HIB used to be the number one
cause of meningitis and now it's almost unheard of, leaving
pneumococcus and meningococcus as the two leading causes.
The importance of this vaccine cannot be emphasized enough.
No children should be left susceptible to this potentially
fatal disease.
