What is pneumococcal disease (pneumococcal infection)?
Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus pneumoniae (also known as pneumococcus). It causes contagious and potentially acute diseases, including pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis.
In order to avoid life-threatening complications, timely diagnosis and treatment are necessary. The best method of infection prevention is vaccination.
Scientists have found about a hundred strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The bacterium causes 2 main types of pneumococcal disease, namely:
• Non-invasive. This type of infection is more common and less serious because it does not spread to major organs or the blood;
• Invasive. This is a more severe form and progresses into the blood.
Pneumococcus bacteria cause many infections and these types of infections can occur anywhere in the body. Acute invasive pathologies (potentially life-threatening) have different symptoms, although the same bacteria are involved.
Urgent medical intervention is required if diagnosed:
- Blood infection;
- Bacterial meningitis;
- Pneumonia;
- Osteomyelitis;
- Septic arthritis;
- Sepsis;
- Bacteria in the blood.
Pneumococcus also causes less serious diseases:
- Bronchitis;
- Middle ear infection;
- Conjunctivitis;
- Sinusitis.
Symptoms of pneumococcal disease are different and depend on the severity and location of the infection.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24231-pneumococcal-disease
