Haemophilus influenzae type b pneumonia

Thirteen patients with Haemophilus influenzae type b pneumonia are reported to emphasise the clinical, radiographic, and therapeutic aspects of this illness. All but one patient was under 2 1/2 years of age. The presenting complaint was a variable duration of upper respiratory infection and fever in most cases. One-third of patients had radiographic evidence of pleural involvement; one-third showed a patchy bronchopneumonia on roentgenogram; and the remainder had segmental or lobar infiltrates. Clinical response to antibiotic therapy was prompt in patients without pleural involvement.