Invasive pneumococcal disease is a rare but most severe form of pneumococcal infection that can even be fatal. If the patient manages to overcome the infection, complications can include hearing loss, changes in the heart or lungs, and even severe disability.

Invasive Pneumococcal Diseaseis the rare but most severe form of pneumococcal infection (the bacteria known as pneumococcal disease).

Contents:

    1. Invasive pneumococcal disease - how do you get infected with pneumococci?
    2. Invasive Pneumococcal Disease - Symptoms
    3. Invasive pneumococcal disease - complications
    4. Invasive Pneumococcal Disease - Treatment
    5. Why is it worth getting vaccinated against pneumococci?

- Pneumococci most often cause inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (acute otitis media, sinusitis, pharyngitis), but in some children and adults they can cause severe, life-threatening invasive infections - explains Dr. Beata Szymczyk-Hałas, specialist infectious diseases at Medicover.

Invasive pneumococcal disease includes pneumonia with bacteremia, meningitis, and blood poisoning (sepsis). It can lead to multi-organ failure, incl. respiratory and circulatory disorders, and consequently death.

Invasive pneumococcal disease - how do you get infected with pneumococci?

Many he althy people, including most children, carry pneumococci, which are found mainly in the mucous membranes of the throat and nose. The mere carrier of bacteria is not dangerous, but in a situation of weakened immunity, e.g. as a result of a viral infection, it may cause a non-invasive infection (e.g. otitis media).

Pneumococci can also break down protective barriers and enter the blood, and with the blood into the cerebrospinal fluid or lungs, causing severe invasive diseases (meningitis, sepsis, pneumonia with bacteraemia).

Pneumococci are spread by airborne droplets - when coughing or sneezing. This way more people become infected. People with congenital or acquired humoral immunity disorders, AIDS patients, people with spleen deficiency or insufficiency, children with spleen deficiency are susceptible to pneumococcal infection.cochlear implants and children attending the nursery / kindergarten.

Read more: Blood contamination (bacteremia) is not sepsis. Causes, symptoms and treatment of bacteremia

Pneumococci are the most dangerous for children under 2 years of age who do not yet have a developed immune system and for the elderly whose immunity weakens with age.

Invasive Pneumococcal Disease - Symptoms

Invasive pneumococcal disease includes:

  • pneumonia with bacteraemia - symptoms are lung murmurs, general weakness, high fever (over 38 degrees C), chills, sweating, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain
  • meningitis - there is a rapidly increasing fever, headaches, vomiting, agitation or disturbance of consciousness, stiff neck, Brudziński's symptom
  • blood infection (sepsis) - fever, sore throat and muscles, weakness, rapid heartbeat and breathing may occur. But the symptoms can also be opposite, for example a decreased body temperature. A very characteristic rash - red or bluish, on the limbs and torso - that does not fade under pressure

Invasive pneumococcal disease - complications

Mortality in invasive pneumococcal disease is high and may exceed 50% in septic shock, and 25% in pneumonia with bacteremia. According to data from the World He alth Organization (WHO), 1.6 million people die from pneumococcal infections each year.

If the patient overcomes the infection, many complications are observed, such as hearing loss or deafness (after meningitis), neurological symptoms (e.g. epilepsy), difficulties in concentration and learning, and even profound impairment - the child has a history of invasive pneumococcal disease may not walk, talk or communicate with the world.

Invasive Pneumococcal Disease - Treatment

In the case of invasive pneumococcal disease, antibiotic therapy is used. However, treatment is hampered by the increasing resistance of pneumococci to antibiotics.

Why is it worth getting vaccinated against pneumococci?

Due to the widespread presence of bacteria and the inability to avoid contact with them, the best effective method of preventing pneumococcal infections, including invasive pneumococcal disease, are protective vaccinations - says Dr. Beata Szymczyk-Hałas.

Pneumococcal prophylactic vaccinations reduce the risk of the disease by more than 90 percent. Children should be vaccinated against pneumococci from the age of 6 weeks.

The vaccine is safe and effective - it lowers the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease by over 90%. , reduces the amount of respiratory tract infections, and thus a lower amount of antibiotics used - adds Dr. Szymczyk-Hałas.

The only absolute contraindication to its use is an allergy to one of its ingredients.

Worth knowing

Pneumococcal vaccine in the mandatory vaccination calendar from 2022

Until the end of 2016, vaccinating a child against pneumococci cost about PLN 600. However, since 2022, the pneumococcal vaccine has been included in the compulsory vaccination calendar, which means that it is reimbursed by the state. The Ministry of He alth selected a 10-valent vaccine for reimbursement. The vaccination obligation can also be completed with a 13-valent vaccine, which offers protection against additional pneumococcal strains. However, it is not refunded.

Category:

Infectious diseases