SUPPURATIVE PERICARDITIS DUE TO HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B

Abstract

Haemophilus influenzae is one of the common pathogens of infancy and childhood. The most frequent infection due to it is meningitis. As a cause of meningitis in the younger age groups,¹ the influenza bacillus shares first place with the meningococcus and the tubercle bacillus. The next most common site of localization is the respiratory tract.² Laryngitis, laryngotracheitis, laryngotracheobronchitis, capillary bronchiolitis, pneumonia, empyema and pulmonary abscess due to the Pfeiffer bacillus have all been described in infants. Infections of the upper respiratory tract, otitis media and sinusitis are known to occur but are not common. Collected series of cases of bacterial endocarditis³ and hematogenous pyarthrosis⁴ caused by the influenzal organisms have been reported. Epidemic forms of pinkeye attributed to the Koch-Weeks bacilli are probably due to a strain of H. influenzae.⁵ The fundamental work of Pittman⁶ demonstrated that the pathogenic strains of the Pfeiffer bacilli