Opinion ID: 2160758
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: nature of disease

Text: According to Dr. David J. Itkin, a physician who specializes in infectious diseases, the minor's condition results from his having contracted bacterial meningitis as the consequence of his exposure to Haemophilus influenzae type b, a bacterium which can cause a variety of different diseases and is generally spread by respiratory secretions and other close contact with infected persons. The Haemophilus organism causes disease in children who have not developed their own immunity; thus, children between 3 to 6 months and 3 to 4 years of age are at the greatest risk of infection and subject to the greatest damage from the disease. Itkin ranks Haemophilus as the most dangerous infectious organism among children 3 years of age and under in terms of communicability and the effect of the disease upon those infected.