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Meningitis por H. influenzae - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Meningitis causada por H. influenzae; Meningitis por la bacteria H. influenzae

Definición:

Es una infección bacteriana de las membranas que cubren el cerebro y la médula espinal (meninges).

Ver también:

Causas, incidencia y factores de riesgo:

La meningitis por H. influenzae es causada por la bacteria Haemophilus influenzae. Esta bacteria no debe confundirse con la enfermedad influenza, una infección de las vías respiratorias altas causada por el virus de la gripe.

Antes de que la vacuna Hib estuviera disponible, la H. influenzae era la causa principal de meningitis bacteriana en niños menores de cinco años. Desde la introducción de la vacuna en los Estados Unidos, la H. influenzae ahora se presenta en menos de 2 de cada 100,000 niños y todavía causa entre el 5 y el 10% de los casos de meningitis bacteriana en adultos.

Este tipo de meningitis puede ocurrir después de una infección de las vías respiratorias altas. La infección por lo general se propaga rápidamente desde las vías respiratorias hacia la circulación sanguínea y luego a las meninges. En esta última parte, las bacterias producen infección e inflamación, causando enfermedad seria y algunas veces la muerte.

Los factores de riesgo abarcan:

  • Infección del oído (otitis media)
  • Familiares con una infección por H. influenzae
  • Raza de aborígenes estadounidenses
  • Permanencia en guarderías
  • Infección de los senos paranasales (sinusitis)
  • Dolor de garganta (faringitis)
  • Infección de las vías respiratorias altas
  • Reviewed last on: 9/15/2010
  • 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, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

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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