The management of Hemophilus influenzae, Type B, pericarditis.

The incidence of Hemophilus influenzae, type B, infections in children has been increasing recently, so the number of cases of pericarditis is likely to rise also. We describe the clinical manifestations and treatment of H. influenzae, type B, pericarditis based on 4 patients and a review of the literature. The most common complication is cardiac tamponade, which requires drainage. All patients should be treated with antibiotics (chloramphenicol, ampicillin) and a drainage procedure. Because of several recently reported cases of subsequent constrictive pericarditis, we recomment anterior interphrenic pericardiectomy both for drainage and to prevent constrictive pericarditis. With appropriate therapy the survival rate should be very high.