Meningitis

• The Disease
  • Types
    • Bacterial meningitis
      • Meningococcal
      • Pneumococcal
      • Hib
      • Group B Streptococcus
      • Tuberculosis Meningitis
      • E.coli
      • Listeria
      • Staphylococcal
    • Viral meningitis
    • Other Forms
  • Personal stories
  • Symptoms
  • After effects
  • Facts and figures
  • Surveillance
  • FAQs
  • Medical Glossary
• The Research
• Help & Advice
• Education

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

Hib meningitis is caused by the bacteria Haemophilus Influenzae type b.  This type of meningitis is most common in babies and children under the age of four.

A vaccine to protect against Hib was introduced in 1992 to protect young children and is now offered to all children at 2, 3 and 4 months of age with a booster at 12 months. Before this, 1 in 600 children contracted Hib before the age of 5 years, and it was responsible for about 70 deaths and 150 cases of brain damage a year.

Because of the success of the vaccine, Hib meningitis is now rare. Since the introduction of the vaccine, cases of Hib meningitis have been reduced by over 90% in the UK.