Hib vaccine protects your toddler from bacterial infections that cause meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglotitis. If you do not get the vaccine, these diseases have the potential to cause disability and even death.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a bacterium that causes serious illness which is a class of Haemophilus influenzae bacteria. This bacterial infection usually affects children under 5 years of age. However, adults who suffer from certain medical conditions can also develop diseases due to Hib bacterial infection.
Why do you need Hib vaccine?
More than 90 percent of Hib bacterial infections occur in children under 5 years old. The highest incidence is found in infants aged 6-12 months.
Hib bacteria can live in the nose and throat of healthy people, and usually do not cause any symptoms. Spread through mucus or snot from the throat and nose of the patient, for example when he coughs or sneezes. If you have been in contact with Hib bacteria, children can experience various serious diseases such as:
- Meningitis, an infection of the protective membrane of the brain and spinal cord. This is the most severe disease caused by Hib. One in 20 children can die even if they have received treatment. While survivors are likely to have long-term problems, such as permanent brain damage, hearing loss (deafness), growth and development impediments, and convulsions.
- Septicemia, a severe infection characterized by the entry of germs into the bloodstream. These conditions can trigger symptoms. These can include weakness, refusing to eat or drink, shortness of breath, palpable body cold or fever, appearing rashes all over the body, and spasms.
- Epiglotitis, an infection of the epiglottis, which is a valve that covers the entrance to the throat. Symptoms can include sore throat, pain or difficulty swallowing, fever, fussiness, hoarseness, abnormal breath sounds, and saliva.
- Osteomyelitis, infection of the bones. Symptoms can be severe pain in the bones that are inflamed due to infection, swelling and redness in the area of infection, and fever.
- Pericarditis, an infection of the lining that surrounds the heart. Symptoms include severe and sudden pain in the chest that feels like a puncture or pressure on the chest. The pain is felt even more severe when lying down or breathing deeply and improves when sitting upright.
- Pneumonia, lung infection. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, difficult or unwilling to drink in infants or children, and coughing.
- Septic arthritis, joint infections. Symptoms include severe pain in the affected joint, pain when moving the joint, swelling or redness in the joints, and fever.
- Cellulitis, infection of the skin and underlying tissues. Symptoms can be in the form of infected skin that looks swollen, red, painful, and feels hot and painful when pressed. This condition often occurs in the lower limbs but can also affect other areas of the body. If the infection becomes more severe there will be fever, nausea, vomiting, and disturbance of consciousness.
If there are symptoms of the disease, immediately see a doctor to get a proper examination and treatment. If not treated immediately, the disease can cause disability and even death.
After the discovery of Hib vaccine, Hib infection rates that were previously high, are now much reduced. Because of the success of Hib vaccine in suppressing the incidence of this disease, Hib vaccination is important as one of the preventative measures.
Coverage of Hib vaccination in Southeast Asia has increased from 56 percent in 2015 to 80% in 2016. In Indonesia the coverage of Hib vaccine has reached 95%, this figure has reached the target but the lowest coverage still occurs, namely in Papua. Therefore, the Government of Indonesia and WHO continue to support the provision of Hib vaccine to reduce the incidence of disease due to Hib infection.
Who Needs Vaskin Hib?
All children under the age of five are advised to get the Hib vaccine. This is because babies and children are very vulnerable to diseases due to Hib germ infection. Based on the recommendations of the Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI) in 2017, Hib vaccination for children is carried out in stages, starting from the little one:
- 2 months
- 3 months
- 4 months
- Booster is given between the ages of 15 months to 18 months
Adults and children older than five years usually do not need the Hib vaccine. But if they suffer from certain conditions such as HIV, asplenia (history of surgical removal of the spleen), or sickle cell anemia, your doctor will probably recommend giving the Hib vaccine.
However, this Hib vaccine is not recommended for children who:
- The age is less than 6 weeks.
- Suffered from allergies after being given Hib injection beforehand.
- I'm very sick.
If you want to get the vaccine but are still in poor health or have questions about vaccination, you can consult a doctor.
Side Effects of Hib Vaccine
Hib vaccines and other types of vaccines are sure to have side effects, such as fever, swelling or redness at the injection site. However, these side effects are usually rare. If it happens it will only last for two or three days after administration of the vaccine. Severe allergic reactions due to vaccines are very rare.
If you want to get more information about the Hib vaccine, don't hesitate or be ashamed to ask lots of questions from your trusted doctor or pediatrician.
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