Definition:
Hib is an bacterium which is said to be responsible for some three million severe illnesses and an estimated 386,000 mortalities per year mainly through pneumonia and meningitis. Affected children range from five years old and below. In developing countries where a large majority of Hib deaths occur, pneumonia is accounted for bigger number of mortalities than meningitis.
Diagnosis:
Blood agar growth
Chocolate agar
Serological testing
Blood culture
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Treatment:
The treatment of Hib needs an intense, sustained course of antibiotics though this is not always the case for developing countries. Hib conjugate vaccines are effective and almost have no side effects. Antibiotics used are cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, or ampicillin with chloramphenicol to treat severe cases. Preventive antibiotics such as rifampin are taken in by the people who have been exposed to Hib disease.
Symptoms and Signs:
Hib symptoms may include lethargy, fever, vomiting and stiff neck.
Causes:
Hib is caused by the bacteria that belong to the family of Pasteurellaceae which is generally aerobic but can develop as a facultative anaerobe.
