Lifespan's A - Z Health Information Library

Haemophilus influenzae meningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges) caused by H. influenzae bacteria.

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) is a type of bacteria, not to be confused with the disease influenza, an upper respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus.

Prior to the availability of the Hib vaccine, H. influenzae was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children under 5 years of age.It occurred most frequently in children from 1 month up to 4 years, with a peak at 6 to 9 months. Since the introduction of the vaccine in the U.S., H. influenzae now occurs in less than 2 in 100,000 children. It still causes between 5% - 10% of bacterial meningitis cases in adults.

H. influenzae meningitis may follow an upper respiratory infection, and may develop slowly or quickly. The infection usually spreads from the respiratory tract to the bloodstream, and then to the meninges. At the meninges, the bacteria produce infection and inflammation, causing serious illness and sometimes death.

Risk factors include a recent history of otitis media (ear infection), sinusitis (infection of sinuses), pharyngitis (sore throat), other upper respiratory infection, or a history of a family member with an H. influenzae infection. Another significant risk factor is race -- Native Americans have a rate of more than 3 times that of the general population. Placement in day care also increases risk.

• Irritability, poor feeding in infants
• Fever (in young infants the temperature may actually be below normal)
• Severe headache (older children)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stiff neck or pain in neck when flexed
• Pain in back when neck is flexed forward and chin brought toward chest (older children)
• Unusual body positions
• Sensitivity to light

For any patient with meningitis, it is important to perform a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), where a spinal fluid (known as cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) is collected for testing.

Other signs and tests include:

• Bulging of the fontanelles (the soft spots on an infant's head)
• Opisthotonos (lying with the back arched, head, back, and chin up)
• Seizures
• Poor circulation(blood flow through the body)
• Mental status changes (such as irritability, reduced consciousness, coma)
• High white blood cell count in blood
• Spinal fluid showing increased number of white blood cells
• Spinal fluid culture showing bacteria
• Serology (antibodies in blood) showing recent exposure to H. influenzae
• Blood culture growing H. influenzae

Treatment of meningitis must be started as soon as the diagnosis is suspected. H. influenzae meningitis should be treated with intravenous (IV) antibiotics. Steroid medication may also be used, mostly in children. Steroids are given to reduce hearing loss, which is a common complication of meningitis in children.

The probable outcome is good with early treatment. However, 3-5% of patients do not survive.

Roughly 20% of patients may experience some hearing loss. Some patients will have brain damage that may lead to seizures, mental retardation, hydrocephalus (water on the brain), learning disorders, abnormalities in speech and language development, and behavioral problems.

If you experience any of the symptoms of H. influenzae or if you notice these symptoms in your child, contact your health care provider or go to an emergency room. Meningitis can quickly become life-threatening.

For protection of the general public (infant and early childhood):

• Several types of Hib vaccine are available for children that are at least 2 months old.
• Hib immunizations for infants and children are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Institutes of Health, and many other health agencies.

• It is recommended that all non-immunized family contacts of individuals with this type of meningitis begin chemoprophylaxis (drug therapy to prevent infection) as soon as possible.
• Ask your health care provider about this treatment during the initial diagnostic visit.