Severe Haemophilus influenzae infections.

From May 1973 thorugh April 1974, a total of 83 children with severe Haemophilus influenzae infections were treated in three Denver pediatric hospitals. Although meningitis was the most common clinical manifestation (45 cases), other foci of infection were also noted (pneumonia, 12 cases; cheek cellulitis, eight cases; epiglottitis, eight cases; empyema, seven cases; pericarditis, three cases; arthritis, one case; periorbital cellulitis, one case; and abscess, one case). Nine children had positive blood cultures with H influenzae without an initial detectable focus of infection. Two patients developed clinically apparent sites of infection (osteomyelitis and scalp abscesses).