Alberta Health Services
Health Information
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Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a bacteria that can cause meningitis, which is a serious infection of the fluid and lining around the brain and spinal cord or blood. Meningitis can lead to lifelong disabilities and death.
You have a higher risk of serious infection if you:
Hib spreads by coughing or sneezing. Some people don’t have symptoms but can still spread the disease.
Antibiotics (medicines that fight bacteria) can be used to treat some infections caused by Hib. But because these infections can be very serious, antibiotics do not always help.
Even with treatment, 1 in 20 children who get bacterial meningitis caused by Hib will die. And about 1 in 3 will have permanent brain damage.
The vaccines that protect against Hib are:
Hib is different from influenza (the flu). Hib does not cause influenza, and the vaccines that prevent Hib do not protect against influenza.
The influenza vaccine is recommended every year for people age 6 months and older.
