The pneumococcus is a bacterium, answering the soft scientific name of Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is the cause of multiple disorders, ranging from simple otitis to pneumonia, a serious dysfunction of the respiratory system which can lead to death. This bacteria lives in the very heart of our nose or throat, which is called the area nasopharynx, but can by adjoined, that is to say, passing from one to the next, finding oneself in other places. Thus the pneumococcus can reach the ear, the sinus, the meninges, the blood or the lungs. The contamination rate is the highest in hiver or the family early spring.

Pneumococcus can be found in different places of the body, and will cause different disorders as a result:

Otitis

Pneumococcus is the main cause of ear infections, because in most people its presence will be limited to this simple ear inflammation.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is sinus inflammation, the hole hidden in the nasal cavity behind the nose. By lodging there, the pneumococcus will cause a reaction in the body up to inflammation.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a infection respiratory tissue, which may affect one or both of the patient’s lungs. The alveoli, small compartments of the lungs, inflame and fill with pus, which prevents their function of capturing oxygen. It usually occurs suddenly, and can lead to complete failure of the respiratory system due to lack of care.

Septicémies

Sepsis refers to general inflammation of the body. This indicates that the pneumococcal bacteria have passed into the blood, and can therefore potentially reach every part of the body. It will mainly develop in patients at risk, or suffering from a failure of the immune system (such as in patients with the AIDS virus).

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges, the envelopes that protect our brain, can be caused by the presence of a pneumococcus. It is even the main cause of bacterial origin (meningitis can however be linked to viruses or fungi). Most often this infection comes from another area, such as the sinus, and is transmitted by contiguity.

Pneumococcus is spread from human to human through airway. Most often by a simple cough, or more directly following a kiss or sneezing, which will transfer bacteria from one individual to another. It is therefore particularly contagious within an enclosed space (school, hospital, prisons…) where people meet more easily and at a close distance.

The pneumococcus can affect anyone, but its consequences will be particularly dangerous for categories of fragile individuals:

The youngest

According to the WHO (World Health Organization) nearly 541 children under the age of five died from pneumonia or related disease, in 000. If we add the other infections to pneumococcus, the figure rises to 2008. The youngest are indeed particularly vulnerable to respiratory problems.

Seniors

Like children, the elderly are more vulnerable to the consequences of pneumococcus.

People with fragile or poorly maintained health

Apart from age-related categories, pneumococcus can prove to be dangerous for the most fragile individuals, in particular those with heart or respiratory failure. Other disorders, for example related to kidney and alcoholism, or as a result of diabetes, can also amplify the effects of pneumococcus.

Various symptoms should worry about the presence of pneumococcus in the body, and a medical appointment will be necessary to deduce the disorder (ear infection, sinusitis, or pneumonia).

• Cough ;
•  Fever ;
• Feeling of unease;
• Localized inflammation (lungs, ears, sinuses);
• Rust-colored sputum (a sign of pneumonia);
•  Pain in the chest (cf. pneumonia);
•  Pain and stiffness in the neck (sign of meningitis).

To this list can be added other more localized symptoms.

The diagnosis must be made by a doctor. After examining your symptoms and especially sore body parts, he will be able to recommend the best treatment.

Thus in the case of pneumonia, a pulmonary radiography will be required, as will a laboratory sputum examination.

Treatment of pneumococcus, like any bacteria, is based on antibiotics. There are several that are effective, but each depends on the specific type the patient is facing:

• Penicillin;
• Ampicillin;
• Amoxicillin;
• Ceftriaxone ;
• Cefotaxime;
• Fluoroquinolones ;
• Vancomycin;
• Omadacyline.

Nowadays, more and more pneumococcal bacteria are resistant antibiotics, which requires tailoring the treatment to the patient.

Two weapons are available to vulnerable patients to be ready when the pneumococcus arrives: the vaccine and a better lifestyle:

The vaccine

The world’s best weapon against the pneumococcal invasion remains the vaccine. Thanks to the resistance training of the body, which becomes able to recognize the bacteria and track it down as soon as it appears, the death rate linked to the consequences of pneumococci has fallen all over the world. Unfortunately, like any bacteria, resistance is gradually building up, and is increasingly resistant to treatment.

In France, the pneumococcal vaccine is compulsory from 2 months for all infants born from January 1, 2018. It is strongly recommended for people at risk (see section above).

Reduce your consumption of alcohol, tobacco or sugar

Since the most severe consequences are on fragile individuals, it is better to prevent reducing alcohol and sugar consumption, in order to avoid diabetes or kidney failure.