Haemophilus meningitis
Haemophilus meningitis | |
---|---|
Specialty | Neurology |
Haemophilus meningitis is a form of
Symptoms and signs
Possible symptoms of Haemophilus meningitis include:[2][3]
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever
- Headache
- Sensitivity to light
- Seizures
- Anorexia
- change in mental status, such as irritability
- stiff neck
Risk factors
While the Haemophilus influenzae bacteria are unable to survive in any environment outside of the human body, humans can
Diagnosis
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2019) |
Prevention
Before the widespread use of the Hib vaccine, Haemophilus meningitis accounted for 40%-60% of all meningitis cases in children under the age of fifteen, and 90% of all meningitis cases in children under the age of five.[3] Vaccination can reduce incidence.[8] Vaccination has reduced the occurrences of Haemophilus meningitis by 87-90% in countries with widespread access to the Hib vaccine.[3] Rates are still high in areas with limited levels of vaccination.[9] Less-developed countries as well as countries with medical infrastructure that has been damaged in any way, such as from warfare, do not have such widespread access to the vaccine and thus experience higher rates of meningitis cases. Multiple conjugate Hib vaccines are available for use, though, and are extremely effective when given to infants.[5] Additionally, the vaccine has only the side effects of reddened skin and swelling at the location of the injection.[5]
Treatment
Because it is a
Prognosis
Survivors of Haemophilus meningitis may experience permanent damage caused by inflammation around the brain, mostly involving neurological disorders. Long-term complications include brain damage, hearing loss, and mental disability.[5] Other possible long-term effects are reduced IQ, cerebral palsy, and the development of seizures.[10] Children that survive the disease are more often held back in school, and are more likely to require special education services.[10] Negative long-term effects are more likely in subjects whose treatments were delayed, as well as in subjects who were given antibiotics to which the bacteria was resistant.[3] Ten percent of survivors develop epilepsy, while close to twenty percent of survivors develop hearing loss ranging from mild loss to deafness. About 45% of survivors experience no negative long-term effects.[3]
References
- PMID 17301516.
- ^ a b c d e "Meningitis - H. influenzae". MedlinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Haran Chandrasekar, Pranatharthi; Cavaliere, Robert; Stanley Rust Jr, Robert; Swaminathan, Subramanian. "Haemophilus Meningitis". Medscape. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)". The History of Vaccines. The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)". World Health Organization. World Health Organization. Archived from the original on April 20, 2006. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- PMID 313003.
- PMID 6603504.
- PMID 17572819.
- PMID 18820360.
- ^ PMID 7655584.