Haemophilus Influenzae Type B

Haemophilus Influenzae Type B, or the Hib virus, is a bacterium that causes a variety of diseases, especially in third-world countries. While the name suggests that it is a type of flu, this is actually not the case. Rather, it is a bacterial infection that potentially causes much more damaging afflictions, such as meningitis, brain damage and hearing loss. First encountered in 1892, Hib was at first thought to be a major strain of influenza, which explains its deceptive nomenclature. The disease is spread in droplets from sneezes and coughs, making it fairly easy to contract in an enclosed environment. Since 1992 however, the Hib vaccine has spared millions, the prevention and treatment of it reaching all regions of the globe.

At the height of its outbreak, Hib was actually one of the leading causes of meningitis among children. What makes this disease so damaging is its spread to the more vulnerable parts of the body, specifically those that are germ-free. Children who have not fully-developed their immune system are particularly prone to Hib, killing 3% to 6% of those who have it. This is why one of the first immunizations a baby will receive will be one against Hib.

Symptoms

Just like HIV, the bacteria itself is usually not the direct cause of the damage to the body, but rather a catalyst that weakens the immune system and leaves the body more prone to other infections and viruses. The extent of damage caused by Hib in young children is no more clearly evidenced by the brutality of its symptoms. While some of the demonstrated symptoms are temporary, some of the long-term results of the infection are irreversible. Here is a brief list of some of the most prominent symptoms:

• Blindness and Deafness
• Brain Damage
• Muscle tightness (meningitis)
• Arthritis
• Fever

Pneumonia

As Hib primarily affects children below the age of five, it becomes important to immediately confront this bacterial infection. According to WebMD, there are still approximately 20,000 cases of the disease that occur every year, and about 12,000 of these cases develop meningitis, and of those 12,000, approximately 1,000 of them die.

Prevention

As mentioned before, the vaccine available since 1992 has saved countless children and even vulnerable adults from the disease. This has been the primary method of prevention for the past two decades, though some precautionary measures have been set for people in special circumstances.

For example, somebody who has suffered from either HIV, Leukemia, sickle cell disease or spleen removal must take a precautionary vaccine. Any advanced treatment of a disease involving the suppressing of the immune system leaves one susceptible to Hib, even if the vaccine has largely prevented an outbreak from occurring.

According to The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, it is highly recommended that a child gets immunized in the first two months of their life to best prevent infection. While this may seem a bit rushed, the vaccine only needs to be taken in three doses in the first six months. This prevents them from contracting it before five, and any sort of follow-up immunization is required only in extreme circumstances. One of the differences in taking the Hib vaccine is that the shot itself does not contain any of the bacteria, the vaccine serving more as a protective layer than a wake-up call to the immune system.

Treatment

There are a few drugs available for immediate treatment. Rifampin is particularly effective in stopping the spread of the disease through the body, though most antibiotics should prevent any bacterial spread after two days. Some doctors even recommend Rifampin as a preventative measure if one gets in contact with a carrier, though casual contact with another person rarely guarantees the spreading of Hib. This is one reason that the disease is so treatable in the first-world and so dangerous in the third-world, as a lack of treatment may result in permanent brain damage and other bodily deformities.