Editorials & Other Articles

A bit more than a decade into my pediatric NP career, the Hib vaccine (Hemophilus influenza B) was introduced, and made our job as pediatric docs and NPs easier and safer.

The Hemophilus influenza B bacterium causes epiglottitis - infection and swelling of the epiglottis, the little anatomical trapdoor that closes when we swallow to keep food and liquids going down the esophagus (food pipe) rather than the trachea (windpipe). If an infected epiglottis swells badly enough, it can completely obstruct the airway. Early epiglottitis has symptoms very similar to croup, which is viral infection of the vocal cords. Sore throat and hoarseness.

Before the Hib vaccine, it was always scary and tricky when examining a child with a sore throat and hoarseness because the very act of sticking a tongue blade in the mouth to try to get a good look at the back of the throat could cause an infected epiglottis to slam shut and block the kid's airway. Do I stick the tongue blade in there, or don't I?

It was such a relief, once the vaccine came along, to be able to thoroughly examine a sick child without worrying that you might kill them.

Hemophilus influenza B also causes meningitis. Since the vaccine, incidence of serious disease from this nasty bug dropped by 99%.