Wanted!
Hemophilus Influenzae
By Laura Denson and Mallory Smith
Physical Description
Hemophilus influenzae is a gram negative coccobaccilus.
Organisms M.O.
This disease is spread through contact with mucus or droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person. Individuals can carry and spread this disease without becoming ill themselves. This disease attacks the body by attacking the respiratory system.
Most Common Victims
This bacterium is most common in children that are three months to three years of age. People over five years of age typically do not get this disease.
Hide Outs
This disease hides out in the nose or throat of some children and adults.
Most Common Injury
The most common injury to this disease is meningitis. Meningitis comes from the inflammation of the thin membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Children will sometimes get pneumonia, severe swelling in the throat, noisy breathing, stiff joints and vomiting. Death can sometimes occur.
Is it Armed or Dangerous?
The disease itself is not armed, but it can be dangerous if it is not treated properly and soon after infection.
Number of Victims
This disease before vaccines infected about 20,000 children in the United States under five years of age and nearly 1,000 people died of this disease per year.
Most Effective Weapon Against
Antibotics are the most effective weapon against this disease. Ampicillin or chloramphenicol are commonly used to treat serious infections of this disease. Rifampin is used to treat people who may be carrying this bacterium.
Other Characteristics
- Symptoms of this disease will appear less than ten days after exposure, and they will usually appear between two to four days after exposure.
- Most children after the age of two have the vaccine for immunity and should be immune to the disease.
- This disease was one of the most important causes of bacterial infection in young children, now though there are very few cases of this disease.
Works Cited
"Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib)." Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib). N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.
"Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) Disease." Department of Health. N.p., n.d. Web.