Abstract
Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) is a common cause of serious infections including meningitis, pneumonia and epiglottitis. Isolation of the organism by culture is laborious but a rapid latex test has recently been proved useful for diagnosis. The objectives of this prospective hospital-based study were to (a) determine the incidence of severe Rib disease, namely meningitis, epiglottitis and severe pneumonia in children 2-59 months based on the clinical features together with a rapid laboratory test (latex) and (b) report on short term outcome. During a one-year period, 305 patients admitted to Omdurman Teaching Hospital with suspected Hib disease were enrolled; 117 (39% )were cases of meningitis. Severe pneumonia and epiglottitis comprised 180 (59%) and 8 (3%) cases, respectively. Of 117 cases clinically diagnosed as meningitis, Haemophilus influenza type b was detected by latex test in 22 (44%) patients; but all blood cultures were negative for Hib. The organism was found to be sensitive to chloramphenicol in 43% of cases. The case fatality rate was 9.1%; hemiplegia and epilepsy each occurred in one of the cases who recovered. The need for
introduction of Hib vaccine in the national program of immunization cannot be overemphasized.

Key words: Haemophilus injluenzae type b, meningitis, pneumonia, epiglottits