Haemophilus influenzae infection (patient information)
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Haemophilus influenzae infection |
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Where to find medical care for Haemophilus influenzae infection? |
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Haemophilus influenzae infection On the Web |
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Haemophilus influenzae infection |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Haemophilus influenzae infection |
Overview
H.influenzae is a type of bacteria that can cause infections in people of all ages ranging from mild, such as an ear infection, to severe, such as a bloodstream infection.
What are the symptoms?
Haemophilus influenzae, including Hib, disease causes different symptoms depending on which part of the body is affected. The most common severe types of H. influenzae disease are:
- Pneumonia (lung infection)
- Fever and chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Sweating
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Muscle pain or aches
- Excessive tiredness
- Bacteremia (bloodstream infection)
- Fever and chills
- Excessive tiredness
- Pain in the belly
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Anxiety
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Altered mental status (confusion)
- Meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord)
- Fever
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Increased sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Altered mental status (confusion)
What are the causes?
Haemophilus influenzae disease is caused by the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae. There are six identifiable types of H. influenzae (a through f) and other non-identifiable types (called nontypeable). The one that people are most familiar with is H. influenzae type b, or Hib. These bacteria live in the nose and throat, and usually cause no harm. However, the bacteria can sometimes move to other parts of the body and cause infection. Some of these infections are considered “invasive” and can be very serious and sometimes even deadly.
Diagnosis
Haemophilus influenzae, including Hib, disease is usually diagnosed with one or more laboratory tests using a sample of body fluid, such as blood or spinal fluid.
Treatment options
H. influenzae, including Hib, disease is treated with antibiotics (medicines that kill bacteria in the body), usually for 10 days. Most cases of invasive disease (when bacteria invade parts of the body that are normally free from germs) require care in a hospital. When H. influenzae cause a non-invasive infection, like bronchitis or an ear infection, antibiotics may be given to prevent complications.
Where to find medical care for Haemophilus influenzae infection?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Haemophilus influenzae infection
Prevention
Vaccine
There's a vaccine that can prevent Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease, the most common type (“strain”) of Haemophilus influenzae bacteria. However, this vaccine does not prevent disease caused by the other types of H. influenzae. Hib vaccine is recommended for all children younger than 5 years old in the United States and is usually given to babies starting at 2 months old. In certain situations, people at increased risk for getting invasive Hib disease (when bacteria invade parts of the body that are normally free from germs) who are fully vaccinated may need additional doses of Hib vaccine. Unimmunized older children, teens, and adults with certain medical conditions should also receive Hib vaccine. Learn more about Hib vaccination.
Re-Infection
This photograph showed an infant being held by his mother while receiving an intramuscular vaccination in his left thigh muscle. A qualified nurse was administering the vaccination while stabilizing the injection site. A child with H. influenzae, including Hib, disease may not develop protective levels of antibodies (proteins produced by the body to fight off diseases). This means that someone could get H. influenzae disease again. Children younger than 2 years old who have recovered from invasive Hib disease are not be considered protected and should receive Hib vaccine as soon as possible.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis
Sometimes Hib is spread to people who have had close or lengthy contact with someone who has or had Hib disease. In certain cases, people in close contact with someone who is sick with Hib should receive antibiotics to prevent them from getting the disease. This is known as prophylaxis. A doctor or local health department will make recommendations for who should receive prophylaxis.d and should receive Hib vaccine as soon as possible.