PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE
South Dakota Department of Health
Office of Disease Prevention Services - 605-773-3737 — (1-800-592-1861 in South Dakota only)
This material is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute
for medical care. We are not able to answer personal medical questions. Please see your
health care provider concerning appropriate care, treatment or other medical advice.
What is pneumococcal disease?
Pneumococcal diseases are caused by a common but potentially harmful bacteria, Streptococcus pneumoniae.
S. pneumoniae is the most common cause of pneumonia in the world and the most common cause of acute otitis media in children. There are 84 different pneumococcal serotypes. Some serotypes are common in adults, others are more common in children, and several are resistant to penicillin.
Who gets pneumococcal disease?
Pneumococci are commonly found in the upper respiratory tract but generally, people have a high resistance to disease. Resistance may be lowered by a number of risk factors including: age extremes (very young and the very old); some viral upper respiratory tract infections, especially influenza; immunoglobulin deficiency; Hodgkin's disease; splenic dysfunction (including sickle-cell anemia); asplenia; chronic cardiovascular or pulmonary disease; diabetes; alcoholism; cirrhosis; kidney disease; recent organ transplantation; AIDS; smoking; living in crowded conditions (institutions, barracks, and ships). Pneumococcal pneumonia occurs most often during the coldest months of the year when respiratory infections are common.
How is this bacteria spread?
The bacteria can be spread from person to person through respiratory droplet spread or indirectly through contact with articles soiled with respiratory discharges.
What are the symptoms of pneumococcal disease?
Symptoms of pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae are: a sudden onset of chills, fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and a cough producing "rusty" sputum. In the elderly, symptoms may be more subtle; a chest x-ray may provide the first evidence of pneumonia. In infants, vomiting and convulsions may be the first indication of infection.
S. pneumoniae is the third leading cause of bacterial meningitis in the United States, most cases are in children under 5 years of age. Meningitis can develop from untreated middle ear or sinus infections, pneumonia, or bacteremia. Bacterial meningitis is seen as an acute onset of high fever, headache, vomiting, drowsiness, and stiff neck. Illness progresses rapidly causing loss of consciousness and possibly death.
How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?
Symptoms may appear in 1-3 days from infection. People with normal immune systems may develop antibodies specific to each serotype of pneumococci which, in general, persist for life.
How is it diagnosed?
Clinical observation of the symptoms accompanied by laboratory cultures from blood and other body fluids and a high white blood cell count in people with normal immune systems. Chest x-rays are important diagnostic tools when pneumonia is suspected.
What is the treatment for pneumococcal infections?
Penicillin is the drug of choice. Some serotypes are resistant to penicillin or, if the patient is allergic to penicillin, vancomycin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and a number of other drugs are effective.
What precautions should the infected person follow?
Good personal hygiene, such as covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing, sanitary disposal of discharges from the mouth and nose, and frequent hand-washing will help prevent transmission.
There is a vaccine available which is recommended for patients with underlying conditions that increase their susceptibility to pneumococcal infection or with increased risk of mortality. Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for: healthy adults 65 or older, those with chronic cardiac, liver, or pulmonary disease, asplenia, alcoholism, diabetes, renal failure, Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, AIDS, chemotherapy, or organ transplants.
Related sites