Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B)

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a bacterial infection that can cause a number of serious illnesses, including meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia, particularly in young children under the age of five.

Number of cases of Hib in England

Number of cases per year worldwide as estimated by the WHO

Incubation period

7-10 days

Symptoms

Severe headache, Stiff neck, Seizures, Severe drowsiness & difficulty waking up, Loss of consciousness , Difficulty breathing

Possible complications

Meningitis, Pneumonia, Breathing difficulties, Blood infections, Cellulitis, Death

About Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B)

Hib is a life-threatening infection that can lead to serious illness, especially in young children.

The disease caused by Hib is spread mainly through coughing or sneezing, or contact with secretions from the nose and throat of an infected person. Despite its name, Hib is a bacterium and not a form of influenza (flu), which is caused by a virus.

Hib symptoms

Symptoms of Hib include severe headache, stiff neck, seizures, severe drowsiness, difficulty waking up, loss of consciousness or difficulty breathing.

Possible complications

Even with appropriate treatment, some Hib infections can result in long-term problems or death. For example, bloodstream infections can result in loss of limbs. Meningitis can cause brain damage or hearing loss.

It’s also possible for Hib to cause inflammation of the epiglottis (the flap at the top of the windpipe), making it difficult to breathe, as well as pneumonia, septic arthritis (joint infections), and cellulitis (an infection of the tissue under the skin).

Complications are rare and typically not severe for bronchitis and ear infections caused by Hib.

Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B) FAQs

People sometimes have Hib bacteria in their nose and throat, even though they’re healthy and don’t have any symptoms of illness. The bacteria are usually spread in a similar way to cold and flu viruses, through infected droplets of fluid in coughs and sneezes. Healthy people can pass on the Hib bacteria, as well as people who are ill with a Hib infection.

Before Hib vaccination was introduced, around 34 per 100,000 children under five became ill with invasive Hib disease every year in England and Wales. One in every 600 children developed some sort of invasive Hib before their fifth birthday.

Current Hib case figures in the UK and worldwide can be found at the top of this page.  Infections are now rare. Of the small number of cases that still occur, most affect adults with long-term underlying medical conditions rather than young children.

FIND OUT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HIB VACCINATION HERE

Hib is usually diagnosed with a blood test or using spinal fluid obtained through a lumbar puncture.

People typically need to take a course of antibiotics after being diagnosed with a Hib infection. Depending on the severity of the illness, they may also need care in a hospital, breathing support, medication to treat low blood pressure and/or wound care for parts of the body with damaged skin.

Anyone living with a person with a Hib infection may be advised to take antibiotics as a precautionary measure.

Individual advice about protecting your child against Hib

Need advice about your child’s Hib vaccination? The BabyJabs clinicians are here to listen and answer your questions to help you decide.