The History of HiB or Haemophilus Influenza Type B

HiB stands for Haemophilus influenza type b, but do not be mislead by the word influenza as this is not a virus, but rather a bacteria. This is a common bacteria in the respiratory tract and about 90% of the healthy population has this bacteria already. toddlers under 4 years of age are most susceptible to this disease, but it is more likely triggered by an immune suppression in one form or another, and people adults over 60 have an increased risk of getting the infection. It is contagious primarily through coughing and sneezing.

HiB can cause Pneumonia and Meningitis. Meningitis symptoms include fever, weakness, vomiting, and a stiff neck and/or back. meningitis can also cause infections throughout the body including the covering of the heart.

During the 40 year period between 1946 and 1986 the incidence of HiB increased 4 times over, and while some scientists speculate that the use of antibiotics may have caused a resistant strain of this bacteria, but another aspect to be looked at is the widespread use of vaccines. Like Polio, Hib increased it's incidents dramatically with widespread use of vaccines, which could be due in part to some ingredients in vaccines. While vaccine manufacturers include ingredients that are adjuvants which help to trigger immune response, many vaccines also include ingredients which actually suppress the immune system which could give bacterium and viral particles which are normally dormant in the human body, the opportunity to attack cells without the bodies natural defense mechanisms fighting back in a healthy fashion. Hib was first discovered in the 1890's during an influenza outbreak. If HiB is not treated immediately, the death rate is typically around 5 to 10% with Neurological damage in as high as 30% of it's victims.

Treatment for HiB is a series of antibiotics. HiB again is a bacterial infection however some people do develop and immunity to it once they have had it, but many do not. As with most bacterium, neither the vaccine nor having had he infection guarantees an immunity. In 1984 there were about 20,000 cases of HiB, but today cases are rare.

The history of Hib it is hard to find any information pertaining to the rate of incidence prior to the advent of vaccinations. Vaccines have been around since the 1700's in a primitive form, and outbreaks of Polio have been recognized since then following different vaccination programs, however it is difficult to extrapolate a potential link to HiB when it's discovery was not until the late 1800's and proper diagnosis of this infection were not yet refined.

Resources:

http://www.informedchoice.info/cocktail.html

http://www.nvic.org/Diseases/HIB.htm

http://www.dhpe.org/infect/hib.html

http://healthvermont.gov/prevent/hib_disease/Hibdisease.aspx

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to give medical advice. It is a call to educate yourself so that in making a decision where your child is concerned, you should take an active role in learning all you can from medical experts on both sides of the fence, then make an educated decision. we did not make an informed decision until one son got Leukemia and another developed Autism immediately after receiving his MMR vaccine. This has sent us on a quest to inform ourselves and others to seriously question what kind of toxic soups are being injected with the vaccines. Odds are if your child is injured by a vaccine, you have little or no recompense against the industry.