An Indiana boy, aged eight, tragically succumbed to a rare and lethal bacterial infection, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), within hours of exhibiting mild symptoms, his mother reported. Liam Dahlberg came home from school in April complaining of a headache. The next day, his mother, Ashlee Dahlberg, noticed a drastic shift in her normally lively son’s behavior.
Upon taking Liam to the hospital, he was diagnosed with Hib, a bacterial infection that is typically vaccinated against during infancy. However, it is still possible for certain individuals, especially the very young and the elderly, to contract the disease. Ashlee Dahlberg revealed the heartbreaking truth that most people who contract Hib die from the infection within 24 hours.
An MRI scan showed that the infection had spread rapidly, engulfing Liam’s brain and spinal cord. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, there was nothing more they could do. Liam passed away less than a day after his initial headache complaint.
Ashlee Dahlberg expressed her deep sorrow, stating that she wouldn’t wish such pain on her worst enemy. She shared the agonizing experience of hearing doctors tell her that despite doing everything right, there was nothing more they could have done to save her son.
Hib infections can be invasive, spreading to parts of the body typically free from germs, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The bacteria can remain dormant in the noses and throats of healthy individuals, but a weakened immune system or concurrent viral infections can allow Hib to enter the bloodstream and spread to the host’s organs.
Dr. Eric Yancy, an Indianapolis pediatrician familiar with Hib, explained that before vaccines were introduced in 1985, the disease was “absolutely devastating,” often resulting in death or significant complications. Liam had been vaccinated against Hib, but Yancy suggested that he may have contracted the infection from an unvaccinated child, raising concerns about potential exposure risks for other children.
Before the Hib vaccine was introduced for children and infants in 1990, approximately 20,000 children under the age of 5 contracted severe Hib disease each year, with about 1,000 fatalities. Since then, Hib infection rates have dropped by more than 99% in the US since 1991. In 2019, only 0.15 out of every 100,000 children under 5 years old contracted Hib. In 2024, fewer than 50 cases were reported in the US, according to the CDC.
Despite these statistics, Ashlee Dahlberg is urging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against Hib to prevent other families from experiencing a similar loss. She expressed her feelings of failure for not being able to protect her son from all harm.