Bacteria of the genus Haemophilus influenzae are rod-shaped pathogens that live mostly on human mucous membranes and are transmitted by droplet infection. The Haemophilia genus includes 16 species, almost all of which can live without oxygen. The Haemophilus influenzae bacterium – a species of the Haemophilia genus – can cause serious illnesses, and some of them are fatal if left untreated. Children should definitely be vaccinated against the Haemophilus influenzae bacterium.
What is Haemophilus influenzae?
The Haemophilus influenzae bacterium, which belongs to the genus Haemophilia, is a bacterium transmitted by droplet infection, which settles and multiplies primarily on the mucous membranes of humans, preferably in the throat – nose – pharynx. The Haemophilus influenzae bacterium causes numerous inflammatory diseases, such as colds, bronchial infections and pneumonia. Especially in children under 5 years of age, the Haemophilus influenzae bacterium triggers severe meningitis, which is usually fatal or causes severe brain damage. To treat an infection with the Haemophilus influenzae bacterium, the doctor prescribes an antibiotic.
Significance and function
The Haemophilus influenzae bacterium is transmissible by droplet infection. In droplet infection, the pathogens enter the upper respiratory tract of humans, such as by sneezing or coughing on them. In the area of the upper respiratory tract, the bacterium usually multiplies very quickly, since the well-moistened and warm mucous membranes are the optimal living environment for the bacterium. A person with a good immune defense usually fights the bacterium himself or the patient receives a mild antibiotic. However, bacterial infection is often preceded by viral infection. The immune system is weakened due to the viral infection and can no longer adequately defend itself against the bacterial infection with Haemophilus influenzae. In such a case, bronchitis usually develops first, followed by pneumonia. The body is then no longer able to fight off the bacterium without medical help. Taking an antibiotic is indicated. In children under 5 years of age, the Haemophilus influenzae bacterium is considered the causative agent of meningitis. Meningitis is fatal within a few days in the vast majority of cases if left untreated. Even if meningitis is survived, the brain usually shows irreparable damage, and the person is severely damaged physically and or mentally. Worldwide, about 400,000 children die from meningitis caused by the Haemophilus influenzae bacterium. It is therefore highly recommended that children be vaccinated against the bacterium. After vaccination, the child is immune to the bacterium and can no longer contract meningitis caused by the Haemophilus influenzae bacterium. Vaccination is given as early as infancy as part of a multiple vaccination (HIB vaccination).
Diseases and medical conditions
Any infection with the Haemophilus influenzae bacterium is a potential danger to humans; especially for children younger than 5 years, infection can be fatal. In most cases, a viral illness and a bacterial infection are closely related in time. The patient initially notices a harmless cold that does not get better with time, but rather worse. Such a “spread cold” is usually a bacterial infection, which quickly leads to serious illness in the body already weakened by the virus. The patient will usually develop bronchitis. If this is left untreated, pneumonia may subsequently result. Pneumonia will most likely not heal without taking a special antibiotic; going to the doctor or hospital is urgently advised at this point at the latest. Infection with the Haemophilus influenzae bacterium has a particularly devastating effect on children under the age of 5. In such young children, the Haemophilus influenzae bacterium usually triggers meningitis. Within a very short time, the child suffers from massive headaches, very high fever, vomiting, dizziness, and sometimes from symptoms of failure. Only immediate intravenous administration of a high-dose antibiotic can then save the child from death.If a described course of the disease occurs in a child, an ambulance should be called immediately so that the child can receive immediate medical attention. Children who survive meningitis usually suffer lifelong brain damage with permanent physical and mental disabilities. Doctors recommend vaccination against the Haemophilus influenzae bacterium. The vaccination is given in infancy as part of a U examination as a multiple vaccination and is harmless. Some children have a slight fever for two to three days and redness around the injection site. However, most children do not feel anything from the vaccination and receive lifelong protection from the Haemophilus influenzae bacterium.
