Hemophilus influenzae type b pneumonia in 43 children.
Using positive blood, lung, or pleural fluid cultures as definitive criteria for bacterial infection, 43 examples of Hemophilus influenzae type b pneumonia were identified in a 43-month period. The mean age of the patients was 26 months; 12% were older than 5 years of age. Associated infections were found in 34 patients and included upper respiratory infections, otitis media, epiglottitis, and meningitis. Positive nasopharyngeal cultures were observed in only 33%. Radiologically, segmental or lobar infiltrates accounted for 85% of the pneumonias. In two cases, death was attributed to the pneumonia alone. Treatment with penicillin G or ampicillin was equally effective. Our data suggest that H. influenzae pneumonia is commonly a serious infection that cannot be distinguished clinically or radiologically from other pneumonias.
D000667:Ampicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D011859:Radiography
D002701:Chloramphenicol; D000667:Ampicillin; D010400:Penicillin G