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Hemophilus influenzae cellulitis
Insights
Hemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) cellulitis in children presents with fever and high white blood cell counts. This bacterial infection is more common in febrile children with facial skin lesions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Bacteriology
Background:
- Cellulitis is a common bacterial skin infection in children.
- Identifying causative organisms is crucial for appropriate treatment.
- Hemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) can cause serious infections in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the clinical presentation of cellulitis caused by Hemophilus influenzae type B in pediatric patients.
- To differentiate Hib cellulitis from other forms of pediatric cellulitis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for 78 children hospitalized with cellulitis over one year.
- Analysis of patient demographics, clinical signs (fever, lesion location), laboratory results (WBC count), and microbiological data.
Main Results:
- Hemophilus influenzae type B was identified in 8 out of 26 febrile children (26.9%).
- Hib cellulitis occurred predominantly in febrile children with facial lesions (7 out of 8 cases).
- Children with Hib cellulitis showed higher mean WBC counts (17,500/mm3) and were more likely to have fever and leukocytosis (>15,000/mm3) compared to other cellulitis cases.
Conclusions:
- Febrile children with facial cellulitis are at higher risk for Hemophilus influenzae type B infection.
- Fever and leukocytosis are significant indicators of Hib cellulitis in pediatric patients.
- Prompt identification and treatment are essential for managing Hib-related skin infections.
Abstract:
To define the clinical features of cellulitis due to Hemophilus influenzae type B, we reviewed the records of 78 children admitted to the hospital with cellulitis during a one-year period. Fifty-two children were afebrile (T less than 38 degrees C) and none had infections due to H. influenzae. Twenty-six children were febrile, 19 with facial and seven with extremity lesions. H. influenzae type B was recovered from seven of the febrile children with facial cellulitis, and one with extremity involvement. The mean WBC count of children with disease due to this organism was 17,500/mm3. Both fever and a leukocytosis (WBC count greater than 15,000/mm3) occurred more often in children with H. influenzae type B cellulitis than among those with infections due to other organisms.