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[Haemophilus influenzae meningitis following vaccination. Consequence or coincidence?]
1Unité de réanimation pédiatrique, hôpital Edouard-Herriot, Lyon, France.
Background:
The introduction of vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) has had a substantial impact on Hib infections. Their use has established their excellent safety profiles but occasional adverse effects have been reported.
Case Report:
A 4 month-old infant was admitted for a severe form of Hib meningitis with septicemia whose first manifestations developed 3 hours after the first immunization with a conjugate vaccine against Hib (PRP-T). The outcome was good without any sequelae.
Discussion:
A dramatic decrease in serum antibodies due to antigen-antibody reaction during the first days after immunization has been reported; this mechanism and some epidemiological data could favor the hypothesis that the vaccine is responsible for the infection, at least the unconjugated vaccines.
Conclusion:
Any fever occurring in the immediate post-immunization period must alert the possibility of a Hib infection.