Haemophilus Influenzae Type B
- Submitted by: begum123
- Views: 95
- Category: Science
- Date Submitted: 10/03/2015 07:22 AM
- Pages: 2
- Report this Essay
Haemophilus Influenzae type b, commonly known as Hib, is a bacterium that can cause severe infections, particularly in young children. Despite its name, it is unrelated to the influenza virus: Hib was found in a group of patients during an influenza outbreak in 1892, before scientists discovered that the flu was caused by a virus. Hib was thus proposed as the cause of influenza. Its now-confusing name was kept in spite of its initial, though incorrect, association with the flu.
Hib bacteria can cause many types of invasive disease, including meningitis, pneumonia, cellulitis (skin infection), septic arthritis (joint infection) and epiglottitis (infection of the epiglottis, causing obstruction or closing of the windpipe). Thus, although it’s sometimes said that the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine is given to “protect against Hib,” this phrasing is not technically correct. The vaccine protects against the diseases caused by Hib, which are numerous and can be severe. Collectively, these Hib-caused infections are referred to generally as “Hib disease.”
Haemophilus Influenzae type b, commonly known as Hib, is a bacterium that can cause severe infections, particularly in young children. Despite its name, it is unrelated to the influenza virus: Hib was found in a group of patients during an influenza outbreak in 1892, before scientists discovered that the flu was caused by a virus. Hib was thus proposed as the cause of influenza. Its now-confusing name was kept in spite of its initial, though incorrect, association with the flu.
Hib bacteria can cause many types of invasive disease, including meningitis, pneumonia, cellulitis (skin infection), septic arthritis (joint infection) and epiglottitis (infection of the epiglottis, causing obstruction or closing of the windpipe). Thus, although it’s sometimes said that the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine is given to “protect against Hib,” this phrasing is not technically correct. The vaccine protects against...
Hib bacteria can cause many types of invasive disease, including meningitis, pneumonia, cellulitis (skin infection), septic arthritis (joint infection) and epiglottitis (infection of the epiglottis, causing obstruction or closing of the windpipe). Thus, although it’s sometimes said that the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine is given to “protect against Hib,” this phrasing is not technically correct. The vaccine protects against the diseases caused by Hib, which are numerous and can be severe. Collectively, these Hib-caused infections are referred to generally as “Hib disease.”
Haemophilus Influenzae type b, commonly known as Hib, is a bacterium that can cause severe infections, particularly in young children. Despite its name, it is unrelated to the influenza virus: Hib was found in a group of patients during an influenza outbreak in 1892, before scientists discovered that the flu was caused by a virus. Hib was thus proposed as the cause of influenza. Its now-confusing name was kept in spite of its initial, though incorrect, association with the flu.
Hib bacteria can cause many types of invasive disease, including meningitis, pneumonia, cellulitis (skin infection), septic arthritis (joint infection) and epiglottitis (infection of the epiglottis, causing obstruction or closing of the windpipe). Thus, although it’s sometimes said that the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine is given to “protect against Hib,” this phrasing is not technically correct. The vaccine protects against...