Hib is particularly dangerous for young children.
Haemophilus influenzaetype b can be prevented with vaccination.
The incubation period for Hib is not known, but it generally produces symptoms within a week.
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In some cases, the bacteria spread to the bloodstream and to other parts of the body.
This is called invasive Hib disease.
Complications
Invasive Hib disease can affect multiple organ systems and lead to serious complications.
Signs and symptoms of pneumonia can vary, but they generally include flu-like symptoms.
Symptoms of Hib bacteremia mimic symptoms of the flu.
The infection may happen after a child has a cold sparked by a virus.
Before the development of an effective vaccine, Hib caused the overwhelming majorityroughly 95%of seriousHaemophilus influenzaeinfections.
People with Hib infections who dont have any symptoms can still spread the disease to other people.
In fact, Hib disease has been a common co-infection during past flu pandemics.
Like manyvaccine-preventable diseases, Hib mainly affects young children.
Summary
Hib is extremely rare in the United States.
However, Hib outbreaks can still happen in areas with low vaccination coverage.
The best way to prevent Hib and other vaccine-preventable diseases is by following the CDCs recommended vaccination schedule.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Epidemiology and prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Chapter 8:Haemophilus influenzae.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Haemophilus influenzaedisease symptoms and complications.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.AboutHaemophilus influenzaedisease
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Septic arthritis.
Stanford Medicine.Haemophilus influenzaeinfections in children.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hib vaccine VIS.
