Haemophilus influenzae infection (patient information)
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Haemophilus influenzae infection |
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Where to find medical care for Haemophilus influenzae infection? |
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Haemophilus influenzae infection On the Web |
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Haemophilus influenzae infection |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Haemophilus influenzae infection |
Overview
H.influenzae is a type of bacteria that can cause infections in people of all ages ranging from mild, such as an ear infection, to severe, such as a bloodstream infection.
What are the symptoms?
Haemophilus influenzae, including Hib, disease causes different symptoms depending on which part of the body is affected. The most common severe types of H. influenzae disease are:
- Pneumonia (lung infection)
- Fever and chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Sweating
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Muscle pain or aches
- Excessive tiredness
- Bacteremia (bloodstream infection)
- Fever and chills
- Excessive tiredness
- Pain in the belly
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Anxiety
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Altered mental status (confusion)
- Meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord)
- Fever
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Increased sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Altered mental status (confusion) {| class="wikitable" !Pneumonia !Bacteremia !Meningitis ! |- |Fever and chills |Fever and chills |Fever | |- |Cough |Excessive tiredness |Headache | |- |Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing |Pain in the belly |Stiff neck | |- |Sweating |Nausea with or without vomiting |Nausea with or without vomiting | |- |Chest pain |Diarrhea |Increased sensitivity to light (photophobia) | |- |Headache |Anxiety |Altered mental status (confusion) | |- |Muscle pain or aches |Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing | | |- |Excessive tiredness |Altered mental status (confusion) | | |}
What are the causes?
Haemophilus influenzae disease is caused by the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae. There are six identifiable types of H. influenzae (a through f) and other non-identifiable types (called nontypeable). The one that people are most familiar with is H. influenzae type b, or Hib. These bacteria live in the nose and throat, and usually cause no harm. However, the bacteria can sometimes move to other parts of the body and cause infection. Some of these infections are considered “invasive” and can be very serious and sometimes even deadly.
Diagnosis
Haemophilus influenzae, including Hib, disease is usually diagnosed with one or more laboratory tests using a sample of body fluid, such as blood or spinal fluid.