Pneumococcal pneumonia and pneumococcal
disease are caused by a bacterium
The bacterium is called Streptococcus pneumoniae (“pneumococci”).
Pneumococci can cause ear infections and severe infections
of the lungs (pneumonia), blood (bacteremia), and covering
of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Increases in
cases of pneumococcal pneumonia may occur during outbreaks
of influenza.
Pneumococcal disease can be very serious. Infants, young
children, persons 65 and older, and persons with underlying
disease are at increased risk of getting pneumococcal
disease
Persons are more likely to get very sick or die from
pneumococcal disease if they have problems such as alcoholism,
heart or lung disease, kidney failure, diabetes, cancer,
weakness of the immune system, or sickle cell disease.
Older persons as a group are more likely to die from pneumococcal
disease. The high risk of death occurs despite treatment.
Antibiotics are used to treat pneumococcal disease
Two types of vaccine are available to prevent pneumococcal
disease
One type of pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for all
persons aged 65 and older, and for persons of any age
(over 2 years old) who have heart or lung disease, kidney
failure, diabetes, alcoholism, cirrhosis, sickle cell
disease, and for Alaskan natives and certain American
Indian groups. This vaccine is also recommended for those
with a weakened immune system or who are taking drugs
that weaken the immune system (including persons with
cancer, organ transplant, infection with human immunodeficiency
virus [HIV or AIDS], or who have had their spleen removed).
This vaccine needs to be given only once initially, but
it can be repeated in 5 years for those at highest risk.
A second type of pneumococcal vaccine has recently been
licensed for use in infants and young children (called
the “conjugate pneumococcal vaccine”). This
vaccine is recommended for all children less than 2 years
old. Additionally, the vaccine is recommended for certain
children between 2 and 5 years old, including those who
have sickle cell disease; chronic heart or lung disease;
kidney failure; diabetes; or weakened immune systems (such
as patients who have cancer, organ transplant, take steroids
for a long time, or have HIV infection or AIDS). The vaccine
can also be given to any child between 2 and 5 years old,
children who attend group daycare, or children who are
African-American, Alaskan Native, or American Indian.
This vaccine may need to be given between 1 to 4 times
depending on how old the child is. You should talk to
your doctor to find out if your child should receive this
vaccine.
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