Intrafamily spread of Haemophilus type b infections
A. Tejani, B. Dobias, B. S. Nangia and H. Velkuru
Meningitis and epiglottitis are the clinical manifestations of severe
Haemophilus influenzae serotype b infection. Compared with meningitis,
epiglottitis occurs in older children. When secondary cases occur within
the family, the type of clinical manifestation produced by this serotype is
generally similar in siblings. This report concerns the unusual occurrence
of meningitis developing in older child and epiglottitis developing in the
younger one. We discuss the possible explanations for this unusual pattern.
We also survey the spread of H influenzae both within and outside the
family unit and review the present status of histocompatibility antigens
and Haemophilus disease.
