Haemophilus Infections and the Hib Vaccine

Haemophilus is a group of bacteria. There are several types, and they can cause illnesses of the lungs and airways, the bones and joints, and the nervous system.

Hib: the serious one

One common type, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), causes serious disease. It usually strikes children under 5.

How children get it

• Hib spreads from person to person. A child can pick it up from other children or adults who carry the bacteria without knowing it.
• If the germs stay in the child's nose and throat, the child probably won't get sick.
• But sometimes they spread into the lungs or bloodstream, where Hib can cause serious problems such as meningitis and pneumonia.

Treatment and prevention

Sources

Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Haemophilus Infections," National Library of Medicine, with text from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; works of the United States government in the public domain.