Latest news with #Haemophilusinfluenzae
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Boy, 8, complains of headache at school then events turn tragic in hours
Ashlee Dahlberg, from Indiana, US, says she felt her son Liam's 'heart fade away' after he suddenly contracted a bacterial infection. She shared the warning signs of the deadly illness A young boy who suffered a headache at school tragically died of a horror infection just hours after complaining about the symptom. Liam Dahlberg, 8, from Indiana, US, came home from class in April and felt unwell. But it wasn't until the following morning that his mum became concerned. His mother, Ashlee Dahlberg, raced him to hospital where she was told that "there's just nothing we could do", after delivering her a devastating diagnosis. Liam had picked up a bacterial infection called Haemophilus influenzae type b, also known as 'H. flu' or 'Hib.' Most children are vaccinated against the deadly illness as a baby, but it is still possible to become infected by it, warned doctors. His mother spoke to local media and said: 'Anybody that contracts it usually dies within 24 hours." Shocking test results from an MRI revealed that the infection had worsened, spreading to his brain and spinal cord. "Basically, at that point in time, there was nothing they could do,' his mum said. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the infection can travel through respiratory droplets and can stay dormant in healthy people, reports New York Post. However, anyone who experiences a low immune system, could see the infection enter the bloodstream - which later can spread to vital organs. Dr. Eric Yancy, a paediatrician in Indianapolis, stressed how quickly Hib can harm patients. 'If it didn't kill the children within a very short period of time, it left many of them with significant complications,' he told 13WMAZ. Despite Liam being vaccinated against the infection, he could have contracted it from someone who wasn't protected. The poor eight-year-old died less than 24 hours after enduring a headache. His mother revealed how she felt his "little heartbeat fade away" before his death. She added: "I would never wish this kind of pain on my worst enemy ever. It's hard. 'To have sat there and listened to the doctors say, 'You did everything right, there's just nothing we could do,' to lay there with him as they took him off life support, I can feel his little heartbeat fade away — there's no words that can describe that pain.'
New York Post
5 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Indiana boy, 8, dies within hours of catching rare infection that spread to his brain and spine
An Indiana boy died hours after he complained of only mild symptoms that ended up being a rare and fatal bacterial infection, his grieving mother revealed. Liam Dahlberg, 8, came home from school complaining of a headache in April, but it wasn't until the following morning that his mom, Ashlee Dahlberg, realized something was wrong with her usually lively and upbeat son, she told 13WMAZ. She rushed Liam to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with the extremely deadly Haemophilus influenzae type b, also known as 'H. flu' or 'Hib.' 4 Liam Dahlberg, 8, died hours after he complained of only mild symptoms that ended up being a rare and fatal bacterial infection. GoFundMe Hib is a bacterial infection — not a virus — that most children are vaccinated against as babies, but even so, it's still possible to contract it, especially at younger and much older ages. 'Anybody that contracts it usually dies within 24 hours,' the heartbroken mother said. An MRI showed that the infection had spread and was covering the 8-year-old's brain and spinal cord. 'Basically, at that point in time, there was nothing they could do,' Dahlberg revealed. Liam died less than 24 hours after complaining of a headache. 'I would never wish this kind of pain on my worst enemy ever. It's hard,' Dahlberg cried as she painstakingly spoke about losing her son in the blink of an eye. 4 Doctors diagnosed Liam with the extremely deadly Haemophilus influenzae type b, also known as 'H. flu' or 'Hib.' 'To have sat there and listened to the doctors say, 'You did everything right, there's just nothing we could do,' to lay there with him as they took him off life support, I can feel his little heartbeat fade away — there's no words that can describe that pain.' Hib infections can be 'invasive,' or rather spread to parts of the body that are typically free from germs, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The infection is usually spread through respiratory droplets and can remain dormant in the noses and throats of healthy people. However, a weakened immune system or individuals already suffering from viral infections can allow Hib to enter the bloodstream, giving the bacteria a pathway to spread to the host's organs. 4 An MRI showed that the infection had spread and was covering the 8-year-old's brain and spinal cord. GoFundMe Dr. Eric Yancy, a pediatrician in Indianapolis familiar with the deadly bacterial infection, told 13WMAZ that up until vaccines for Hib were introduced in 1985, it was 'absolutely devastating.' 'If it didn't kill the children within a very short period of time, it left many of them with significant complications,' Yancy shared. Dahlberg said Liam was vaccinated against Hib, but Yancy explained that her son likely contracted it from a child who was unvaccinated against the bacterial infection — meaning more children could be at risk of exposure. 4 Liam died less than 24 hours after complaining of a headache. GoFundMe Before the vaccine was introduced for children and then for infants in 1990, 'about 20,000 children younger than 5 had a severe Hib disease each year, and about 1,000 died,' according to the Cleveland Clinic. Since then, Hib infection rates have dramatically dropped in the US by more than 99% since 1991. By 2019, 0.15 out of every 100,000 children younger than 5 years old had a Hib disease. In 2024, fewer than 50 cases were reported in the US, according to the CDC. However, Dahlberg is urging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against Hib so that other families never have to experience the same loss. 'I feel like I have failed my child because I could not protect him from everything that would cause harm,' the grieving mother said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Boy, 8, Contracts Rare Bacterial Illness, Dies 16 Hours Later: ‘I Could Feel His Little Heartbeat Fade Away'
Ashlee Dahlberg's son, Liam, came home from school with a headache; the next day he was rushed to the hospital, nearly unresponsive An MRI that showed the 8-year-old's brain and spinal cord were covered by invasive Haemophilus influenzae bacteria, a sign of untreatable meningitis Dahlberg is urging others to vaccinate their children against Hib, as doctors say Liam likely caught it from an unvaccinated childAn 8-year-old Indiana boy died of a rare bacterial infection after he likely caught it from an unvaccinated child, according to doctors. 'This is not your typical everyday flu,' Ashlee Dahlberg said in an interview with WHTR, where she shared how invasive Haemophilus influenzae, also known as "H. flu,' or 'Hib' killed her son within hours. Liam Dahlberg came home from school in April with a headache. The next morning, the family rushed the barely responsive child to the hospital. An MRI revealed the unthinkable: 'They discovered the amount of bacteria that was covering his brain and his spinal cord,' his mother told the outlet. 'At that point in time, that's when there was there was nothing they could do.' Haemophilus influenzae causes a type of bacterial infection, the Cleveland Clinic explains, that despite its name, is unrelated to the flu. A mild infection causes bronchitis; more severe outcomes include septic arthritis, septicemia — and as was the case with Liam, meningitis (infection in the brain and spinal cord). She shared a video of her son writhing in pain and moaning in the hospital, telling the outlet, 'I would never wish this kind of pain on my worst enemy ever. To have sat there and listened to the doctor say you did everything right, but there was just nothing we could do, and then to lay there with him as they took him off life support. And I could feel his little heartbeat just fade away.' Pediatrician Dr. Eric Yancy told WHTR that the disease was 'absolutely devastating' before the vaccine was available. He said it was likely Liam caught Hib from someone unvaccinated — possibly a child, as vaccination rates have fallen. As the Children's Hospital of Pennsylanvia (CHOP) explains, before the Hib vaccine was introduced in 1985, about 20,000 children in the United States would develop serious, sometimes fatal infections. 'Most children harmed by Hib were previously healthy and well nourished,' CHOP says, adding that children who recover from a Hib infection may be left paralyzed, deaf, blind, or mentally impaired. It's spread through respiratory droplets, the Cleveland Clinic explains, and can be contagious even if the person infected doesn't exhibit symptoms. 'Liam was a bright and smart young boy, full of life and potential. His presence brought joy and warmth to everyone he met,' his family wrote in a GoFundMe established to help pay their unexpected medical costs. 'There's no words that can describe that pain,' Dahlberg told WHTR. 'I feel I have failed my child because I could not protect him from everything that would cause harm.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Health
- Miami Herald
8-year-old boy contracts H flu and dies within 20 hours. ‘Nothing they could do'
An 8-year-old boy contracted a bacterial infection from a classmate and died within 20 hours, his Indiana mom said. Ashlee Dahlberg, of Lowell, is now imploring parents to vaccinate their children following the April 28 death of her son, Liam Dahlberg. She told WTHR her immunocompromised son complained about a headache when he returned home from school. When he was taken to a hospital the next morning, an MRI uncovered 'bacteria that was covering his brain and spinal cord,' the mother said. 'At that point in time, there was nothing they could do,' Dahlberg told WTHR. Liam had contracted H flu, also known as Haemophilus influenzae or Hib. The disease developed into a meningitis infection, a loved one said in a GoFundMe. Liam, described in the GoFundMe as a 'bright and smart young boy... full of life and potential,' was declared brain dead within 20 hours following the onset of his symptoms, his mother said in a Facebook post. 'To sit there and be told my son was a 1 in a million case and that he was basically handed his death card the minute he came into contact with that UNVACCINATED child, who is a carrier because of the simple fact he/she is UNVACCINATED, makes me sick,' Dahlberg said. Haemophilus influenzae bacteria live in people's noses and throat, and while they don't typically cause harm, they can travel across the body and pose danger, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacteria is spread to others when people breathe in small respiratory droplets that are created when an infected person coughs or sneezes, the CDC says. Health officials say the best way to prevent H flu is to get vaccinated, as the CDC recommends all children younger than 5 to receive a vaccination for the disease. It's why Dahlberg has created a petition asking for religious exemptions for school immunizations to be eliminated. 'We must act swiftly and decisively to prevent further tragedies,' she said in the petition. 'Ensuring that all children in public schools are vaccinated, barring medical exemptions, protects not only those children but all members of society.' Liam was a third grade student at Lake Praire Elementary School in Lowell, according to an obituary. Lowell is about a 135-mile drive northwest from Indianapolis.
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Yes, pneumonia can be contagious. But here's why it depends on the form.
Yes, pneumonia can be contagious. But here's why it depends on the form. Show Caption Hide Caption Medications can add to heat related illnesses Extreme heatwaves can trigger heat exhaustion and heat stroke, but health experts say some people on specific medications can be more prone to these types of risks. Fox - Seattle For the second half of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th, pneumonia was a leading cause of death that killed hundreds of thousands of people. Sir William Osler – usually considered the father of modern medicine – described pneumonia at the time as "the most fatal of all acute diseases" because it killed about one in four of the people it infected during the Civil War. Thanks to advancements in modern medicine, though, pneumonia in the U.S. is not as fatal as it once was. Still, some 41,000 people in the country die from the disease every year – and more than 1.4 million people still visit an emergency room because of it, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here's what pneumonia is, what causes it and how the disease is usually treated once it has been diagnosed. What is pneumonia? Pneumonia is a serious respiratory infection that exists inside of the lungs, says Dr. Jillian Diuguid-Gerber, an internal medicine specialist at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. She explains that it's what happens when the tiny air sacs inside of the lungs (called alveoli) fill with fluid or pus. This can lead to clogged airways or inflammation that can make it difficult to breathe. Telltale shortness of breath, rapid breathing or other breathing difficulties are the most worrisome symptoms of pneumonia, as they "can be a sign of low oxygen levels," says Diuguid-Gerber. But breathing difficulties are not the only symptom of the disease. Other symptoms include chest pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, sweating "and fever and cough are especially common," says Dr. David Levine, pediatrician and the Chief of Ambulatory Pediatrics at the Atlantic Health System's Goryeb Children's Hospital in New Jersey. Symptoms of pneumonia can be concerning in anyone but are especially problematic in children as their lungs are still developing; they have smaller airways than adults. "Pneumonia can also be very worrisome in people with weakened immune systems and with existing lung problems," adds Diuguid-Gerber. Did you see? COPD can be debilitating. What exactly is it? What causes pneumonia? Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, "but usually when people are thinking of pneumonia, they are thinking of the kind caused by bacteria," says Diuguid-Gerber. She explains that the most common bacteria to cause the disease is called Streptococcus pneumoniae, but other bacteria can also cause it. These include Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. Beyond bacteria, "viruses are also common causes of pneumonia," says Diuguid-Gerber. These include any virus that can affect the respiratory system, including influenza (flu) viruses, the adenovirus (similar to the common cold), RSV, human metapneumovirus and the coronavirus (COVID-19). While bacteria and viruses are behind most pneumonia cases, Levine says that fungi can also cause pneumonia. Pneumocystis jirovecii and Histoplasma capsulatum are the types of fungi most commonly responsible. The cause of the disease also determines whether pneumonia is contagious or not. The viral forms of it that are most contagious are transmitted "through respiratory droplets being released into the air when a person coughs, sneezes or even talks," says Levine. Heads up: RSV is common and sometimes dangerous. Here's what to know. How is pneumonia treated? Regardless of what has caused the disease to develop, symptoms of pneumonia are often targeted through everyday remedies like getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated with plenty of fluids using a humidifier to soothe irritated airways and taking over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen to treat discomfort. Hospitalization may be needed in order to provide oxygen support or intravenous hydration. Treating the cause of the disease can often be done with nothing more than "at-home care," says Levine, "but some cases of the disease require antibiotics." Antibiotics only treat bacterial forms of pneumonia, however, and antiviral medications are used to treat viral forms for the disease, Diuguid-Gerber explains. Antifungal medications are usually needed to treat fungal pneumonia. The discomfort of pneumonia and associated treatment can often be altogether avoided through vaccination. "Getting the pneumonia vaccine, flu vaccine or COVID vaccine could all help prevent pneumonia," says Diuguid-Gerber. Indeed, pneumonia vaccines have been shown to be between 45% and 75% effective in preventing the disease, depending on what type of pneumonia you're dealing with. And even if you're among the people who get pneumonia despite having gotten the vaccine, Levine adds, "vaccines can prevent many of the worst outcomes of the disease."
