Rapidly fatal Haemophilus influenzae serotype f sepsis in a healthy child.
A previously healthy 4-year-old child became acutely ill with vomiting and low-grade fever. The following day she suddenly became limp and unresponsive. She experienced acute septic shock and despite aggressive treatment died. Blood cultures grew ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae type f. There was no evidence of bacterial pneumonia or meningitis. To our knowledge, this represents the first case of fatal H. influenzae type f sepsis in a child without an identifiable focus or underlying predisposing condition. Despite the overwhelming success of the H. influenzae type b vaccine, physicians need to be aware of the potential for severe and fatal H. influenzae infections other than type b.
Zacharisen
M C
MC
Medical College of Wisconsin 9000 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. mzacharisen@chw.org
Watters
S K
SK
Edwards
J
J
D002675:Child, Preschool; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans