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Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), i.e. hemophilic rod type B, is a bacterium that can cause many dangerous diseases, including severe pneumonia, meningitis, and even potentially fatal sepsis. Additionally, it most often attacks children up to 5 years old. Fortunately, you can save your little ones from this dangerous pathogen.

Haemophilus influenzae type B , i.e.hemophilic rod type b(Hib), is a bacterium that lives in the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat) most people, especially children under 5 years of age. Microorganisms, despite their presence in the body, most often do not cause any disease symptoms. However, a decrease in immunity contributes to the creation of appropriate conditions for the development of this pathogen. Then, life-threatening and even life-threatening diseases occur.

Haemophilus influenzae type B most often attacks children under 5

Haemophilus influenzae type B most often attacks children up to 5 years of age, but the younger the child, the greater the likelihood of infection. According to the doctors' observations, the pathogen usually attacks the youngest aged 6-24 months, after which the incidence of diseases caused by this bacterium decreases and disappears after the child turns 5 years old.

Haemophilus influenzae type b is a bacterium that (apart from pneumococci and meningococci) most often causes severe bacterial infections in children up to the age of 5.

This is because babies up to the age of 6 months are protected against the pathogen by the mother's antibodies, which are passed on to them in the last weeks of pregnancy. This is why infections and carriers of Haemophilus influenzae type B are rarely seen in infants. Children over the age of 2 years gradually acquire the ability to produce antibodies to this bacterium and are therefore less susceptible to its effects. Therefore, the risk of infection is highest in children from 6 months to 2 years of age who are not vaccinated and therefore not protected against the pathogen.

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Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) - how do you get infected?

Haemophilus influenzae type B is transmitted by airborne droplets or direct contact with respiratory secretions containing this pathogen. Germs can spread to another person from a sick person or a host - that is, from a person who, although infected, does not get sick but is a source of infection for other people.

The most bacterial carriers are among children, especially those attending nurseries and kindergartens.

Due to the fact that bacteria live in the nose and throat of the carrier, they can easily spread to other people during e.g. eating together, sharing cutlery, drinking drinks from one bottle, staying for a long time in a group (e.g. a child's stay in a nursery and kindergarten), in closed, unventilated rooms.

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Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) - who is most likely to be infected?

Immunocompromised children are particularly at risk of infection, e.g. those struggling with certain immunodeficiency syndromes, cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, HIV-infected or suffering from sickle cell anemia.

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) - symptoms

After 2-4 days from contact with the bacterium, symptoms of severe, life-threatening diseases may appear, such as:

  • meningitis - 5 percent the sick dies. In 25 percent leaves serious neurological defects, of which 6 percent. cases are permanent hearing loss;
  • pneumonia;
  • inflammation of the epiglottis, which may lead to obstruction of the airways and asphyxiation of the child;
  • sepsis, i.e. a generalized infection with severe symptoms from many organs;

In addition, Haemophilus influenzae type B can lead to bacteremia, inflammation of other parts of the respiratory tract (e.g. bronchi, sinuses), as well as inflammation of the middle ear, skin and subcutaneous connective tissue, joints, peritoneum, pericardium and bone marrow .

In older children and adults - due to the well-developed immune system - the infection is usually asymptomatic.

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) - treatment

The treatment involves antibiotics, e.g. third-generation cephalosporins, amoxicillin or chloramphenicol.

Important

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) - how to prevent infection? The vaccine is the best solution

The most effective method of preventing diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae typeB are vaccinations. In Poland, according to the Protective Vaccination Program, vaccinations against the haemophilic bacteria type B have been obligatory since 2007 and are given to children in the first and second year of life.

Complete vaccination protects children 95-100% against severe Haemophilus influenzae type B infection. In addition, vaccination also reduces the number of carriers of this pathogen who are a source of infection in other children.

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Infectious diseases