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Meningitis - H. influenzae - Treatment

Alternative Names

H. influenzae meningitis; H. flu meningitis

Treatment:

Treatment must be started as soon as meningitis is suspected. H. influenzae meningitis should be treated with antibiotics given through a vein (IV).

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.

Expectations (prognosis):

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

Complications:

Abnormal speech and language development
Behavioral problems
Hearing loss
Hydrocephalus
Learning disorders
Mental retardation
Seizures

Calling your health care provider:

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

Haemophilus influenza organism

Influenza

Reviewed last on: 9/28/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

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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