This immunization is designed to
prevent diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB), a
bacteria responsible for a range of serious "invasive"
diseases including meningitis with potential brain damage and
epiglottitis with airway obstruction.
More than 90% of all HIB infections occur in children 5 years of
age or less; the peak attack rate is at 6-12 months of age.
The HIB vaccine is usually given at 2, 4 and 6 months of age and a
final booster is given at 12-15 months of age. HIB vaccine rarely
causes severe reactions. The HIB vaccine has almost eradicated the
disease. Before the vaccine, some 20,000 cases of HIB invasive
disease in preschool children were reported every year in the U.S.
compared to less than 300 cases after the advent of the vaccine.
The HIB vaccine is a "conjugate" vaccine. It joins ("conjugates")
sugars from the HIB bacteria with a protein from another bacteria.
The protein stimulates the baby's immature immune cells so they
produce antibodies to the HIB sugars, protecting the child from HIB
infection.
The prestigious Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research
was given in 1996 to David H. Smith, Porter W. Anderson Jr., John B.
Robbins and Rachel Schneerson for their work in developing a vaccine
against Haemophilus influenzae type B.
medical
dictionary, online medical dictionary, medical
terminology dictionary, free online medical
dictionary, medical dictionary, online medical
dictionary, medical terminology dictionary, free
online medical dictionary, dictionary medical,
dictionary medical online, dictionary medical
terminology, dictionary free medical online,
dictionary free medical, dictionary medical
terms, dictionary drug medical medicine,
dictionary health illustrated medical nursing
profession stedmans, dictionary English medical,
dictionary medical online terminology,
dictionary encyclopedia medical online,
condition dictionary medical, dictionary
medical, dictionary drug medical, medical
dictionary software, cyclopedic dictionary index
medical tabers thumb, medical dictionary, online
medical dictionary, medical terminology
dictionary
