Pneumococcal Disease

Pneumococcal Disease

Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria cause pneumococcal disease. An infected person
spreads these bacteria through contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva, mucus, or
blood. The severity of the illness depends on an array of factors, including age, underlying health
complications, or medical conditions, such as lung disease, heart disease, or diabetes. As such, it
is safe to say that the disease is common among persons with the highlighted medical conditions,
children, and people aged 65 and beyond (O'Neill, 2022). This is based on the fact that it affects
people with little immunity, which is why it has to be addressed in time before resulting in its
severity. It can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis.
Symptoms of the pneumococcal disease can include fever, coughing, chest pain, and difficulty
breathing.
Several interventions can be used to prevent or treat pneumococcal disease. These
include vaccinations, antibiotics, and supportive care. Vaccinations offer the best prevention
mechanism for pneumococcal illness. They come in two types: the polysaccharide vaccine
(PPSV23), primarily for older people aged 65+ and persons with medical conditions, and the
pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) for children below the age of five (CDC, 2022).
Antibiotics are also effective in treating pneumococcal disease. The type of antibiotic used will
depend on the particular infection that is present. Common antibiotics used to treat the
pneumococcal disease include penicillin, amoxicillin, and erythromycin.
Supportive care is also essential in the treatment of pneumococcal disease. This can
include giving fluids to prevent dehydration, providing oxygen therapy, and helping the patient
to breathe if they are having difficulty (CDC, 2022). Multiple restorative health care
considerations should be considered when treating pneumococcal disease (CDC, 2022). These

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include the need for long-term follow-up care, the possibility of complications, and the need for
rehabilitation in some cases.

References

CDC. (2022). Pneumococcal Prevention. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/about/prevention.html#:~:text=Vaccines%20are%20the%20
best%20way%20to%20prevent%20pneumococcal%20disease
O'Neill J. H., Jr (2022). Pneumococcal Immunization for Adults in 2022. Delaware journal of
public health, 8(1), 36–38. https://doi.org/10.32481/djph.2022.03.006