Pneumococcal Disease

Pneumococcal Disease is a disease caused by infection with the bacteria Streptococcus Pneumoniae. People who are infected will have symptoms ranging from mild such as fever, cough, chest pain, pneumonia to very severe symptoms such as meningitis, bloodstream infections, or death. This type of bacteria is spread through saliva or phlegm from coughing, sneezing, and sharing utensils. It is a disease that can occur to people of all ages .

Symptoms of Pneumococcal Disease

Initially, patients will have symptoms similar to fever, such as headache, fever, body aches, feeling cold, sweating easily, etc. Patients should see a doctor immediately if other symptoms occur, such as high fever for more than 3 consecutive days, drowsiness or confusion, pale mouth, stiff neck , bloody sputum, unusually cold hands and feet, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, seizures, etc., because these may be warning signs of meningitis, which is a serious complication of Pneumococcal Disease. If not treated promptly, it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms in children may differ from those in adults, but if the following symptoms occur, the child should be taken to see a doctor immediately.

• Abnormal crying
• Easily irritated
• Children less than 3 months old have a fever higher than 38 degrees Celsius.
• Children aged 3-6 months have a fever higher than 39 degrees Celsius.
• Children over 2 years old with symptoms lasting more than 3 days

Causes of Pneumococcal Disease

Pneumococcal disease is caused by infection with the bacteria Streptococcus Pneumoniae, of which there are more than 90 species. This type of bacteria usually lives in the throat and nasal cavities of infected people and is spread from person to person through saliva or mucus when coughing, sneezing  , kissing, or sharing straws.

In addition, some people may be at increased risk of developing this disease, such as:

• Children under 2 years of age
• Children in daycare centers
• Elderly people over 65 years old
• People who smoke cigarettes
• Patients with low immunity, such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, AIDS patients, etc.
• People with spinal fluid leaks
• People with chronic diseases such as diabetes, lung disease, liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, or cancer, etc.
• People who have had their spleen removed or whose spleen is malfunctioning
• People who have had cochlear implants

Diagnosis of Pneumococcal Disease

Since Streptococcus Pneumoniae bacteria can live in many parts of the body, there are several ways to diagnose the infection. Initially, doctors usually perform a basic physical examination using a stethoscope and ask about the patient’s medical history. After that, they may perform the following tests:

• Measure blood pressure. This will help the doctor know the patient’s blood pressure at that time. If the blood pressure is very low, it may indicate that there is a severe infection.
• Blood test by analyzing the white blood cell count. If the count is high, it means that there may be germs in the body.
• Chest X-rays in cases where abnormalities in the body need to be examined, such as abnormalities in the fluid in the lungs, etc.
• A spinal tap is performed to analyze the cerebrospinal fluid for an increased number of white blood cells, which indicates an infection.

Pneumococcal Disease Treatment

There are many ways to treat Pneumococcal Disease. Initially, the doctor may assess the severity of the symptoms to see if the patient can take care of themselves at home or if they need to be treated in the hospital. If the patient has mild symptoms, the doctor may allow the patient to take care of their symptoms at home by getting enough rest and drinking plenty of fluids. The doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria by taking the medication continuously for 7 days. Even if the symptoms improve or disappear before the medication is finished, the medication should be taken until the prescribed period is complete because there is a risk of recurrence.

In severe cases, patients may need to be treated in a hospital. Doctors may prescribe intravenous antibiotics and monitor symptoms closely for 7-10 days. A ventilator may also be used if the patient has a severe lung infection that prevents them from breathing on their own.

Once treatment is complete, your doctor may schedule follow-up visits for about six weeks after you leave the hospital to see if the infection is still causing damage to your body or organs at risk of infection, such as your lungs.

Complications of Pneumococcal Disease

Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria usually do not cause serious symptoms, but if it infects the lungs or meninges, it can cause serious and life-threatening complications.

Streptococcus Pneumoniae infection can cause the following complications:

Sinusitis and ear infections

This is a common complication that is mild and can recur. However, in cases where it recurs frequently, surgery may be required to insert a small tube into the eardrum to help ventilate and prevent fluid from building up in the middle ear.

pneumonia

Pneumonia or pneumonia can lead to other complications such as pleural infection, pericarditis, etc., which can be life-threatening.

Bloodstream infection

The infection can enter the bloodstream , causing inflammation, blood clots, or organ failure, which is a very dangerous condition because if not treated in time, it can lead to kidney failure and death.

Meningitis  

It is the most serious and common complication that can cause long-term damage to the body, such as slow development or hearing loss in children. If the symptoms are severe, it can even lead to death.

However, those who are infected with mild Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria have a mortality risk of only about 5 percent, but the risk increases if the patient is elderly.

Pneumococcal Disease Prevention

Since there are over 90 strains of Streptococcus Pneumoniae bacteria , it is difficult to completely prevent infection. However, it is possible to prevent infection in the first place by:

• Wash your hands thoroughly every time before eating or after touching objects that may have germs on them, and do not share containers with others.

• Vaccination is available. There are two types of vaccines: one for young children, which can be used in people over 19 years of age who are sick, and the other for people over 65 years of age. Although vaccination cannot protect against all strains of Streptococcus Pneumoniae bacteria, it can protect against strains that cause serious disease.
• Quit smoking. Statistics show that more than 60 percent of people who contract Streptococcus Pneumoniae are smokers. Smoking may be a factor in the disease. Quitting smoking may reduce the risk of this disease and reduce the risk of serious health problems such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Do not drink alcohol because alcohol has the effect of weakening the body’s immune system, which makes it easier for Streptococcus us Pneumoniae bacteria to enter the body, thus increasing the risk of developing this disease.