[Neonatal infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus parainfluenzae].

Haemophilus influenzae is a frequent causal agent of serious infections in infants. Mostly these infections occur at the age of 3 months to 3 years. Reports about infections in the neonatal period were rare in the past and most of them were single cases. In the last years an increase of neonatal infections due to Haemophilus influenzae had been reported. In the period from June 1980 to January 1986 we saw 5 newborns with severe infections due to Haemophilus influenzae and one neonate infected by Haemophilus parainfluenzae. By discussion of our cases and by review of the literature we want to show important aspects of pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, diagnostics and therapy of neonatal infections due to bacteria of the genus Haemophilus.