Hib

Medical abbreviation · Pediatric & Neonatal

Hib stands for Haemophilus influenzae type b (vaccine), a pediatric & neonatal abbreviation.

Bacterium that, before routine vaccination, was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in US children under five, also causing epiglottitis and pneumonia. Conjugate Hib vaccines are given at 2, 4 and sometimes 6 months, with a booster at 12–15 months.

Example: Hib booster given at 12 months; catch-up schedule complete.

Usage notes

Conjugate vaccines introduced in the late 1980s and early 1990s reduced invasive Hib disease in young children by more than 99 percent, and epiglottitis became rare. Despite its name, the bacterium does not cause influenza; it was mistakenly blamed for the 1889–1890 flu pandemic. Written with a lowercase "ib".

Related abbreviations

More pediatric & neonatal abbreviations

• FTT – Failure to thrive
• GDD – Global developmental delay
• GER – Gastroesophageal reflux (infant)
• HepA – Hepatitis A vaccine
• HepB – Hepatitis B vaccine
• HFMD – Hand, foot and mouth disease
• HSP – Henoch-Schönlein purpura
• IPV – Inactivated poliovirus vaccine
• KD – Kawasaki disease
• LBW – Low birth weight
• MAS – Meconium aspiration syndrome
• MenACWY – Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (serogroups A, C, W and Y)

See all 51 pediatric & neonatal abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.