Haemophilus influenzae
Haemophilus influenzae is a type of bacterium that grows in the upper airways of adults and children, normally without causing any disease. Haemophilus influenzae type b, known as Hib for short, is one of 6 types that have been described.
Haemophilus influenzae type b can cause meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and epiglottitis (inflammation of the epiglottis — the small cartilage at the base of your tongue that closes off your voice box when you eat or drink). Since widespread vaccination, however, Hib is not a common cause of either of these life-threatening conditions.
Other conditions that Hib can cause are pneumonia, septic arthritis, bronchitis and middle ear infections.
Vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae
Since the introduction of routine vaccination against Hib in 1993, the number of cases of Hib infection has been greatly reduced in Australia. In the years before vaccination was brought in, there were usually at least 500 cases of Hib every year in children under 6 in Australia. Currently, there are about 15 cases of Hib infection reported each year in Australia.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children had a higher incidence of Hib disease than non-indigenous children and tended to have Hib disease at a younger age, however, there has been a marked reduction in infections since vaccination was introduced.
Current recommendations are for vaccination of all children from 2 months of age, along with the other standard childhood vaccines. Hib injections are either given at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months, with a booster at 12 months, or at 2 months, 4 months and 12 months, depending on the type of Hib vaccine used.
Catch-up vaccination is available for children under 5 years of age, who have missed having Hib vaccination. See your doctor if you have children under 5 who are not protected against Hib.
Last Reviewed: 16 December 2009
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