Pneumococcus – or what attacks our children? 6th December 2024 – Tags: bacteria, diseases, Pneumococcus, prevention, vaccination
Most parents have encountered the name given in the title of today’s article. Pneumococci are the most common cause of otitis media in children. Science is now at such a level that vaccines have been developed against just these pathogens. What are pneumococci? What diseases do they cause? And how to protect yourself from infection?
What are pneumococci?
Pneumococcus is another name for the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is a spheroidal bacterium of the Streptococaceae family that is responsible for many diseases in humans. The most common diseases caused by this bacterium are pneumonia, sinusitis, otitis media and meningitis. From a microbiological perspective, it is a gram-positive granuloma that often chains together. Pneumococci are usually found in the upper respiratory tract, where they cause no symptoms in healthy people. Only in immunocompromised individuals do they transform into pathogenic bacteria. They usually attack infants, the elderly, smokers, diabetics and those taking immune-compromising drugs. They are particularly dangerous in HIV-infected patients.
What diseases do pneumococci cause?
As mentioned above, pneumococci cause infections that can occur in different parts of the body.
The most dangerous diseases are:
– Blood infection
– Infection of the brain membrane and spinal cord
– Pneumonia
– Bone and bone marrow infection
– Infection of the joints
– Common inflammation of tissues and organs as a reaction to sepsis
– In addition, infections caused by these bacteria can result in serious disabilities such as brain damage, hearing loss or surgical removal of a limb
– When infections go untreated, they can end in death
What are Pneumococcus ?
Less serious diseases caused by pneumococcus are:
– Inflammation of the respiratory tract – bronchitis
– Middle ear infection
– Conjunctivitis
– Sinusitis
What are the symptoms of pneumococcal infection?
The most common symptoms associated with mild infections are:
– Pain
– Fever
– Swelling of infected parts of the body
– In the case of otitis media, symptoms include ear pain and weakness
– In the case of sinusitis, symptoms include nasal obstruction, headache or loss of smell
With the appearance of the above, or more serious symptoms, you should consult your family doctor. In addition, at the onset of a very high fever with convulsions or with other symptoms not previously present with a fever, you should call the emergency room.
Prevention of pneumococcal infection:
At this point, the most effective way to protect yourself from diseases caused by pneumococci is to receive a vaccine. At this point, two types of vaccines against the pathogens in question are known – conjugated vaccines and polysaccharide vaccines. Vaccination can be received by children from 6 weeks of age, adolescents and adults. Depending on the age of the patient, the vaccination includes from 1 to 4 doses. Both types of vaccines are safe and well tolerated.
