Abstract
The natural course and sequelae of HIB Empyema have not been well characterized. Among 12 cases seen between 1966-1977, 8 were aged 6 months to 6 years and 4 were aged 6 - 11 years. Although 8 received antibiotics prior to diagnosis, 6 had positive blood cultures and 5 had positive cultures of pleural fluid. Among 4 receiving no prior treatment, none had positive blood cultures, 3 had positive pleural fluid cultures and 1 had sterile fluid with HIB antigen detected by CIE. All survived. Chest tube drainage was required in 3. Additional complications included pericarditis (2), Meningitis (1), and cellulitis (1). Mean duration of hospital stay was 21 days (range 9 - 35).
Chest radiographs 6 months after diagnosis were available in 8 patients. 6 had pleural thickening, 4 had scoliosis and 2 had prominent hilum. Lung function studies were also performed on 5, 18-36 months following discharge. Four patients demonstrated a restrictive and 1 patient an obstructive ventilatory defect by plethysmography or helium dilution. 3 of the 5 patients with abnormal lung function studies showed simultaneous residual pleural thickening. Persisting defects of lung function may be a sequel of HIB empyema.
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Santoaham, M., Chipps, B., Strife, J. et al. 811 COURSE AND SEOUELAE OF H. INFLUENZAE B (HIB) EMPYEMA. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 499 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00816
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00816