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H. influenzae meningitis; H. flu meningitis
Haemophilus influenzae meningitis is a bacterial infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges).
See also:
H. influenzae meningitis is caused by Haemophilus influenzae bacteria. These bacteria should not be confused with the disease influenza, an upper respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus.
Before the Hib vaccine became available, H. influenzae was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children under age 5. Since the introduction of the vaccine in the U.S., H. influenzae meningitis occurs in less than 2 in 100,000 children. It still causes 5% - 10% of bacterial meningitis cases in adults.
H. influenzae meningitis may occur after an upper respiratory infection. 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:
Swartz MN. Meningitis: bacterial, viral, and other. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 437.
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