Confirmed cases of Hib in Ohio
Hib disease is a serious illness caused by the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type b. Hib disease can occur in any age group due to incomplete or unvaccinated individuals.
The Wayne County Health Department has been notified by the Ohio Department of Health of an increased number of Haemophilus influenza type b cases in Ohio. Currently Wayne County does not have a case of Hib, but there are confirmed and suspected cases, as well as in Gallia County, Knox County and Ashland County.
Hib disease is a serious illness caused by the bacteria Haemophilus influenza type b. Hib disease can occur in any age group due to incomplete or unvaccinated individuals.
Babies and children younger than age 5 are the most at risk for contracting Hib disease. Hib disease is very serious and can cause lifelong disability and be deadly. Most children with Hib disease need care in the hospital, and even with treatment, as many as 1 out of 20 children with Hib meningitis die.
As many as 1 out of 5 children who survive Hib meningitis will have brain damage or become deaf. The best way to protect against Hib disease is by getting the Hib vaccine. The CDC recommends Hib vaccine for all children younger than age 2 in the United States. Babies start getting the Hib vaccine at 2 months old. They need multiple doses for best protection.
Hib disease can cause different symptoms depending on which part of the body it affects. The most common type of Hib disease is meningitis. This is an infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord.
Symptoms of meningitis can include high fever, confusion, headache or stiff neck, pain from bright lights, poor eating and drinking, low alertness, or vomiting (in babies). Other symptoms of Hib disease can include throat swelling that makes it hard to breathe, joint infection, skin infection, pneumonia (lung infection) and/or bone infection.
Hib bacteria spreads from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Even people who are not sick can have the bacteria in their noses and throats and spread the bacteria.