HiB Question

[PinkinPA]

I am doing some reading about this since our ped wants to vax DS for Hib. If the child gets sick with HiB, will s/he always get the miningitis? It sounds to me like it can happen, but may not. Also, can anyone tell me what year the hib vax was put on the schedule and which states don't mandate this shot?

[MissRubyandKen]

No you won't always get meningitis if you have Hib.

CDC's pink book chapter-

In the prevaccine era, most children acquired immunity by 5–6 years of age through asymptomatic infection by Hib bacteria.

In some persons, the organism causes an invasive infection.

In the prevaccine era peak attack rates occurred at 6–7 months of age, declining thereafter. The presumed reason for this age distribution is the acquisition of immunity to Hib with increasing age.

[Jugs]

Meningitis occurs in about 50-65% of cases.

[carriebft]

epiglottitis is more common in children 2-7 from Hib disease and less common in younger children. septic arthritis and cellulitis are the other two big risks for kids 2 and under that are seen less 2+. I think meningitis, pneumonia and epoglotittis are the three big risks overall in that order of frequency but I would have to double check.

[MissRubyandKen]

Jugs where did you find those %s?

[stacey05]

>Meningitis occurs in about 50-65% of cases. <


I don't know about these percentages for sure, but I am thinking she must mean WHEN it goes invasive, it turns into men. in about 50-65% of cases. I don't think it means that 50-65% of those who come in contact with hib will develop meningitis? Is that right?

Also, Carriebft...where did you find the statistics on epiglottis being more of a risk in older kids? Epiglottis (as well as men.) scare me! I am still bf'ing my son who is 20 months old and from the reading I have done, he is pretty protected and will be even after I stop. I read that for every week you bf after 13 weeks, the risk of hib goes down 5%!!! Anybody else read about this?

Oh, and I think the hib vaccine came out in the late 80's, right? I know my 16yo got it and he was born in 1992.

Stacey