Haemophilus influenzae

H. influenzae are bacteria that live in people’s noses and throats. It can cause many different types of infections. These infections range from mild (like ear infections) to serious, such as inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord, and bloodstream infections.

Signs and symptoms of H. influenzae depend on the part of the body that is infected. H. influenzae spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, which creates small droplets that contain the bacteria. Other people can become infected if they breathe in those droplets. The bacteria can also spread to people who have close or continuous contact with a person who is infected with H. influenzae.

One common type of H. influenzae is Hib (Haemophilus influenzae Type B), which causes serious disease and usually occurs in children younger than 5 years old. Children can have this bacteria in their nose and throat and not get sick. But sometimes the bacteria spreads into the lungs or the blood and can cause serious problems such as inflammation of parts of the brain and spinal cord, or pneumonia (infection of the lungs). The best way to prevent Hib is by getting the Hib vaccine.