What is haemophilus influenzae disease (Hib)?

Haemophilus influenza Disease is often called Hib. It is a type of bacteria that can cause many different kinds of infections. Some of the infections are mild, like ear infections. Some infections can be very severe, like infections in the bloodstream or inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).

Hib spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets in the air from coughing, sneezing or talking. The bacteria live in people’s nose and throats and usually do not cause sickness. However, sometimes the bacteria spread to other parts of the body and cause infections.

Hib is a vaccine-preventable disease.

What are the symptoms and complications of Hib?

Hib can cause many different kinds of infections, and the symptoms for each are different because different parts of the body are infected.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs.

Pneumonia Symptoms:

  • Fever and chills
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Sweating
  • Chest pain
  • Headache
  • Muscle pain or aches
  • Excessive fatigue or feeling tired

A bloodstream infection can occur with or without pneumonia.

Bloodstream Infection Symptoms:

  • Fever and chills
  • Excessive fatigue or feeling tired
  • Belly pain
  • Nausea with or without vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Anxiety or confusion
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Meningitis is inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.

Meningitis Symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Stiff neck
  • Nausea with or without vomiting
  • Eyes sensitive to light
  • Confusion

When should my child get the Hib vaccine?

The Hib vaccine has decreased serious cases of Hib by more than 99 percent since 1991. There are two types of vaccines that protect against Hib. (The Hib vaccine does NOT protect against other types of Haemophilus influenzae.)

  • Hib Vaccine – protects children and adults from Hib disease.
  • DTaP-IPV/Hib Vaccine – protects babies 2 through 18 months of age from Hib disease, as well as tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and polio.

The CDC recommends all children 5 years of age and younger receive the Hib vaccine. Unvaccinated older children and adults with certain medical conditions should also be vaccinated, as well as people who receive a bone marrow transplant.

Stay on schedule!

For best protection, CDC recommends shots at the following ages:

  • 2 months
  • 4 months
  • 6 months (depending on the vaccine brand)
  • 12 to 15 months

Talk to your child’s doctor about the best strategy for vaccination.

Is the Hib vaccine safe for my child?

The Hib vaccine is safe and protects well against Hib. However, it cannot prevent all cases of the disease. Studies show the Hib vaccine protects nearly all children from Hib, but protection decreases over time.

Before vaccines were available, Hib was one of the leading causes of bacterial meningitis in children 5 years of age and younger. About 20,000 children would get serious Hib disease each year, with about 1,000 children dying from the disease each year. Today, less than 50 cases of Hib disease are recorded in young children each year. These are mostly in non-vaccinated children.

Most people who get a Hib vaccine do not experience any side effects. For those who do, side effects are usually mild and go away on their own. Side effects can include pain or soreness at the spot of the injection or fever.