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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staff
Hib vaccine
Immunization with the Hib vaccine is an effective way to prevent epiglottitis caused by Hib. In the United States, children usually receive the vaccine in three or four doses:
- At 2 months
- At 4 months
- At 6 months if your child is being given the four-dose vaccine
- At 12 to 15 months
The Hib vaccine is generally not given to children older than age 5 or to adults because they're less likely to develop Hib infection. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the vaccine for older children and adults whose immune systems have been weakened by:
- Sickle cell disease
- HIV/AIDS
- Spleen removal
- Chemotherapy
- Medications to prevent rejection of organ or bone marrow transplants
Vaccine side effects
Possible side effects of the Hib vaccine include redness, warmth or swelling at the injection site, and a fever. Rarely, a serious allergic reaction may cause difficulty breathing, wheezing, hives, weakness, a rapid heartbeat or dizziness within minutes or a few hours after the shot. If you have an allergic reaction to the vaccine, seek medical help immediately.
Common-sense precautions
Of course, the Hib vaccine doesn't offer guarantees. Immunized children have been known to develop epiglottitis — and other germs can cause epiglottitis, too. That's where common-sense precautions come in:
- Don't share personal items.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water aren't available.
- Woods CR. Epiglottitis (supraglottitis): Clinical features and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- Woods CR. Epiglottitis (supraglottitis): Treatment and prevention. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- Epiglottitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec08/ch090/ch090l.html. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Is your child protected against Hib? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HibDisease/. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-hib.pdf. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- Sobol SE, et al. Epiglottitis and croup. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2008;41:551.
- Lustig LR, et al. Ear, nose, and throat disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. 49th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2356. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- 8. Rubin MA, et al. Pharyngitis, sinusitis, otitis, and other upper respiratory tract infections. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2883486. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 17, 2010.
- Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 23, 2010.
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