Ashlee Dahlberg’s 8-year-old son, Liam, fell ill with a headache after returning home from school in April. He was rushed to the hospital, where he became nearly unresponsive and underwent an MRI that revealed severe bacterial infection.
The test showed that Liam’s brain and spinal cord were covered by invasive Haemophilus influenzae bacteria, a sign of untreatable meningitis. Doctors believe Liam likely contracted the disease from an unvaccinated child.
Dahlberg is now urging others to vaccinate their children against Hib, as doctors say it could have prevented her son’s death. The rare bacterial infection, known as Haemophilus influenzae or “Hib,” can cause severe outcomes including meningitis, septic arthritis, and septicemia.
In an interview with WHTR, Dahlberg shared a heart-wrenching account of her son’s final hours, describing the pain and fear that accompanied his decline. The family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover medical costs due to their unexpected expenses.
According to Dr. Eric Yancy, pediatrician at CHOP, Hib was “absolutely devastating” before the vaccine was introduced in 1985. Before the vaccine, about 20,000 US children would develop serious and sometimes fatal infections from Hib. The disease is spread through respiratory droplets and can be contagious even if symptoms are not present.
The family’s heartbreaking loss highlights the importance of vaccination against Hib, which has significantly reduced cases of the disease in recent decades.
Source: https://people.com/boy-8-dies-bacterial-illness-hib-vaccines-11744513