Editorials & Other Articles

...vaccine did not exist. H flu is a nasty bug, causing a number of serious infections with potentially devastating consequences:

From Google:
Meningitis: An inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal column
Epiglottitis: A life-threatening swelling of the tissue in the throat that covers the windpipe (trachea)
Septicemia: A bloodstream infection
Cellulitis: A skin infection
Pneumonia: A lung infection
Arthritis: An infection of the joints

I've bolded and underlined epiglottitis because the development of the Hib vaccine had a direct, daily impact on the safety of my job as a nurse practitioner. Early symptoms of life threatening epiglottitis are very similar to croup, which is not life-threatening - sore throat and hoarseness.

In epiglottitis, the very act of examining a child's throat can cause the epiglottis (the little trap door that covers the windpipe and keeps food and fluids out of it) to essentially slam shut over the windpipe and keep air out of it. A simple tongue depressor/tongue blade could become an instrument of respiratory obstruction and death.

It was always a scary dilemma to examine a child with hoarseness and a sore throat, and such a relief when the vaccine became available and made it safe to do a thorough exam without fear of causing the airway to be blocked. If it gets blocked, intubation is not possible, and a tracheostomy is needed.

The Hib vaccine was introduced in the mid 1980s, about 10 years into my career. Everyone in pediatrics was thrilled.