Pneumococcal Disease
2011 campaign: 3 pneumococcal posters
Pneumococcal bacteria are the most common cause of bacterial infections in children and a frequent cause of infections in adults. Infection starts in the nose or throat where it may persist for weeks or months. Many people will not develop any symptoms, but others may develop serious pneumococcal disease including acute otitis (infection of the ear), acute sinusitis (sinus), acute bronchitis or pneumonia (lung), bacteremia or septicemia (blood), meningitis (central nervous system), endocarditis (heart), septic arthritis (joint), osteomyelitis (bone), peritonitis (abdominal lining).
Pneumococcal infection is the most common complication of both seasonal and pandemic H1N1 influenza.
Some people are at greater risk of serious complications from the disease. These include the very young, people 65 and older, and people with health conditions such as heart or lung disease, kidney failure, diabetes, HIV infection, anatomic or physiologic asplenia, or certain types of cancer.
Antibiotics were once effective in treating these infections; but the disease has become more resistant to antibiotics, making treatment of pneumococcal infections more difficult. This makes prevention of the disease through immunization even more important.
Pneumococcal bacteria are the most common cause of bacterial infections in children and a frequent cause of infections in adults. Infection starts in the nose or throat where it may persist for weeks or months. Many people will not develop any symptoms, but others may develop serious pneumococcal disease including acute otitis (infection of the ear), acute sinusitis (sinus), acute bronchitis or pneumonia (lung), bacteremia or septicemia (blood), meningitis (central nervous system), endocarditis (heart), septic arthritis (joint), osteomyelitis (bone), peritonitis (abdominal lining).
Pneumococcal infection is the most common complication of both seasonal and pandemic H1N1 influenza.
Some people are at greater risk of serious complications from the disease. These include the very young, people 65 and older, and people with health conditions such as heart or lung disease, kidney failure, diabetes, HIV infection, anatomic or physiologic asplenia, or certain types of cancer.
Antibiotics were once effective in treating these infections; but the disease has become more resistant to antibiotics, making treatment of pneumococcal infections more difficult. This makes prevention of the disease through immunization even more important.