WHAT IS HIB?
HIB is a bacterium (singular for bacteria) that can cause serious illnesses such as meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain), blood infections, bone infections, and pneumonia. It is transmitted like the common cold (through contact with an infected person’s cough, mucus, or saliva). Fortunately, when a person is exposed to HIB, the bacteria usually remain in the nose, ears, or throat and simply cause minor cold symptoms. Only rarely do they invade farther into the body and cause one of the severe infections mentioned above. Symptoms of these serious infections vary according to the body part that is affected but generally include fever, lethargy, vomiting, and a poor appetite. HIB is diagnosed through a blood test or spinal tap, tests that aren’t done until a person is sick enough to go to the doctor. Because most cases of HIB go undiagnosed, no one knows exactly what percentage of minor HIB cases turn serious. This infection does not give a person lifelong immunity. It can be
Related Questions
- Can my child have the Hib/MenC jab together with the MMR and pneumococcal jabs?
- Can my child have the Hib/MenC jab together with the MMR and pneumococcal jabs?
- What is Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) germ?
- What are the contraindications to DTaP/IPV/Hib?
- What is Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) germ?
- What are the contraindications to DTaP/IPV/Hib?
