A rare bacterial infection, haemophilus influenzae (H. flu), has claimed the life of an 8-year-old boy from Indiana. Liam Dahlberg was diagnosed with the infection after complaining of a headache following his return home from school in April. The medical team found that the bacteria had spread to his brain and spinal cord, leading to meningitis.
Despite being fully vaccinated against H. flu as part of his routine childhood vaccinations, which are about 95% effective in preventing infections, Liam’s case is alarming. His family is still unsure how he caught the infection, but doctors suspect it may have been from an unvaccinated child at school who was carrying high levels of the bacterium.
H. flu can live harmlessly in the noses and throats of healthy people, but under certain conditions, such as a weakened immune system or another viral infection like a cold, it can get into the bloodstream and cause damage to healthy organs. In 1985, the rollout of a vaccine led to a significant reduction in serious infections caused by H. flu, with fewer than 50 cases per year now reported in young children.
Liam’s mother, Ashlee, is urging parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated against H. flu. She shared her grief and warned others about the rare infection that killed her son within hours of catching it at school. The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover medical costs.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14762731/Indiana-boy-dead-infection-hflu.html