Pneumococcal disease is a group of human infectious diseases caused by pneumococcus, which have a universal prevalence, affecting mainly the children’s population, and are manifested by a variety of symptoms. One of the most dangerous manifestations of pneumococcal infection is pneumonia with pleurisy or destruction. Pneumococci are bacteria that cause more than 80 types of infections.
Children are most prone to this dangerous disease, since they do not have the body’s natural defenses for up to two years. The most effective means of preventing pneumococcal disease is vaccination.
These bacteria can infect any system of the human body. Under normal conditions, they are found in the tissues of every person, but under certain factors they can cause very serious diseases: otitis media, rhinosinusitis and other lesions of the upper respiratory tract. It is also possible due to bacteremia inflammation of the meninges and meningitis, damage to other internal organs, muscles and joints.
In adults, this infection causes disease less frequently than in children, but they are much more severe. Susceptibility increases in people with risk factors for severe pneumococcal diseases: asplenia, congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies, including HIV infection, hormone treatment, cytostatics, chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, chronic bronchopulmonary, cardiovascular diseases, blood diseases, type 1 diabetes, organ transplantation, etc. Any of the diseases caused by pneumococcus can be cured with antibacterial agents. But finding the right treatment can be very difficult and takes a lot of time. After all, this microorganism has adapted and practically ceased to respond to antibacterial drugs. The vaccine also destroys the resistance of the pathogen to these drugs and allows you to cope with the disease much faster.
Vaccination against pneumococcal infection is an excellent means of preventing diseases that are caused by pneumococci.
Who is at risk?
The pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for people who are at risk. These are the elderly and children under the age of 7, people who are in contact with carriers of this infection, as well as those suffering from chronic diseases of the heart and blood vessels, lungs and liver. This vaccine is also recommended for people with a manifestation of sepsis in the body, people with a traumatic brain injury and all those who have a weakened immune system.
The pneumococcal vaccine is effective in people at risk in 85% of cases. Timely vaccinations have a positive effect on life expectancy and immunity, and also reduce the risk of severe complications.
Contraindications and complications
The body of an adult responds more favorably to drugs to improve immunity, a child may have an increase in body temperature. An important role is played by the fact that adults often and repeatedly suffer from diseases caused by pneumococci.
There may be few side effects after being vaccinated against this infectious disease. Most often, redness and swelling may occur at the injection site. The body temperature may also rise and an allergic reaction in the form of urticaria may appear.
In general, in adults, vaccination is quite successful and does not require special preparation. There are some contraindications for which vaccination is not recommended. First of all, it concerns the exacerbation of chronic diseases. Also, people with an allergic reaction to the components of the vaccine should not be vaccinated. Vaccination is contraindicated for pregnant women. Despite many recommendations for mandatory vaccination, it is better to postpone it for a short time if there are contraindications.