The Risk of Subsequent Transmission of Hemophilus Influenzae Type B Disease among Children in Day Care

Abstract

To determine the risk of Hemophilus influenzae type b disease among children attending day-care facilities who were exposed to a primary case of invasive hemophilus disease, we conducted a two-year (August 1982 through July 1984) statewide prospective study involving active surveillance for H. influenzae disease and a 60-day follow-up of the children's day-care contacts. We identified 185 patients with primary invasive hemophilus type b disease who were under six years of age and who attended a total of 195 day-care facilities (centers or private homes). There were 4102 children in attendance at these day-care facilities when the primary cases occurred; 4034 (98 percent) were followed for 60 days or more after the onset of illness in the patients with primary disease. A total of 2612 children were considered classroom contacts of the patients with primary disease, because they were cared for in the same home or the same room in a larger facility, but they were not siblings of the index patients. Of these classroom contacts, 370 from 0 to 23 months of age and 716 from 24 to 47 months of age did not receive rifampin chemoprophylaxis. We could confirm no subsequent H. influenzae disease among contacts.