Haemophilus influenzae type b
Haemophilus influenzae type b ( Hib ) is a bacterium that can cause a number of serious illnesses, particularly in young children.
Hib infections used to be a serious health problem in the UK, but the routine immunisation against Hib , given to infants since 1992, means these infections are now rare.
Of the small number of cases that do occur nowadays, most affect adults with long-term (chronic) underlying medical conditions, rather than young children.
Find out about haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), a bacterium that can cause a number of serious illnesses, particularly in young children.
Hib bacteria can cause several serious infections, including: meningitis infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord Septicaemia blood poisoning pneumonia infection of the lungs p
Hib bacteria can live in the nose and throat of healthy people, and usually don't cause any symptoms. The bacteria are usually spread in a similar way to cold and flu viruses, through infected drop
Vaccinating children against Hib has been very effective in cutting rates of Hib infections. From more than 800 confirmed cases a year in England in the early 1990s, the number of Hib infections has