Hib disease is spread through contact with discharges or droplets from the nose or throat of an infected person. Hib disease can spread from person to person through sneezing, coughing, or speaking closely with an infected person. A person does not have to have symptoms to spread the bacterium. Symptoms of meningitis include fever, weakness, vomiting, and a stiff neck. Hib can also cause infection of the lungs, blood, joints, bones, throat, and covering of the heart.
Symptoms depend on the part of the body affected.
The time between exposure and symptoms is usually less than 10 days. Hib disease is diagnosed by blood culture or, more often, by culture of the cerebrospinal fluid. Unvaccinated children under age 5 are at risk for Hib disease. Hib disease occurs most often in children ages 3 months to 2 years. As children grow older, they are less likely to develop Hib disease.