Haemophilus Influenzae Infection

Introduction

Haemophilus influenzae is a species of bacteria that can cause many kinds of infections. These can range from mild ear infections to severe diseases, like bloodstream infections. Haemophilus influenzae bacteria most often cause pneumonia, a lung infection.

Epidemiology

Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, Chills, Sweating, Chest pain that comes and goes with breathing, Headache, Muscle pain, Excessive tiredness, vomiting, pain in the belly. Antibiotics are used to treat Haemophilus influenzae infections. Most of the cases need to be hospitalized and monitored closely for treatment and management of complications such as meningitis and pneumonia.

Statistics

The incidence of Hi meningitis fell from 0•9/100 000 in 1996-2008 to 0•09/100 000 in 2009-2014, with a marked decline (96%) in children aged <5 years, including infants aged <3 months, from 12 to 0•4/100 000. The incidence of invasive Hi disease also decreased in children aged <15 years from 6 to 0•7/100 000, remained stable in the 15-64 years age group at about 0•5/100 000.