Diseases DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM WITH PHONE OR TABLET Hib Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) is a bacterial disease spread through the air by coughing, sneezing, and talking. Hib bacteria enter children’s noses or throats. If they stay there, the children probably will not become sick. But sometimes the bacteria spread to the lungs or bloodstream, causing serious complications including ear infection, meningitis, and pneumonia. Hib can also cause epiglottitis, an inflammation and swelling in the throat that can make it hard to breathe. Hib also can cause deafness, seizures, and intellectual disability. This disease is most dangerous for children younger than five years, especially infants. Hib is preventable. All children younger than five years should be immunized. They should get the vaccine at two and four months and, depending on the brand of vaccine given, possibly another dose at six months. Children need a booster dose between twelve and fifteen months. From Hip on Health: Health Information for Caregivers and Families by Charlotte M. Hendricks. Published by Redleaf Press. www.redleafpress.org. 8 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL