Etiology and epidemiology
- by Hemofilus influenzae type b;
- affects children from 3 months to 5 years;
- in the pre-disease stage, there is usually an upper respiratory tract infection, fever, anorexia, vomiting.
Clinical findings
- after uncharacteristic symptoms, fever increases;
- in infants, the fontanela is arched; in older children meningeal signs.
Diagnosis
- typical findings in punction;
- latex agglutination can prove H. influenzae.
Complications and consequences
- with fast and correct treatment, the finding recedes rapidly;
- if we figure it out late in infants, obstructive hydrocephalus may occur;
- the result can be psychomotor retardation and cranial nerve disorder, deafness (usually unilateral).
Therapy
- previously successful treatment with ampicillin is often ineffective due to higher β-lactamase production;
- treatment is initiated i.v. application of dexamethasone, immediately afterwards we apply cephalosporins III. generation (doses are the same as for meningococcal meningitis, for 5-10 days);
- chloramphenicol is also effective, but we rarely use it for side effects.
Prevention
- in countries where vaccination against HEB has been around for a longer time, this disease has been almost eradicated;
- in the Czech republic it is part of the mandatory vaccinations sice July of 2001, few dozen cases are reported every year.
Prognosis
- lethality is below 5%, the risk is higher in the event of a hydrocephalus
Links
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References
Source
Literature
- HRODEK, Otto a Jan VAVŘINEC, et al. Pediatrie. 1. vydání. Praha : Galén, 2002. ISBN 80-7262-178-5.
- ŠAŠINKA, Miroslav, Tibor ŠAGÁT a László KOVÁCS, et al. Pediatria. 2. vydání. Bratislava : Herba, 2007. ISBN 978-80-89171-49-1.
