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There are various ways to prevent pneumococcus from affecting you. Vaccinations have the highest rate of prevention compared to other ways. Children are vaccinated at a younger age to help them when they reach the age of increased risk. Other ways to prevent you from getting it is having good hygiene like washing your hands and lowering the amount of contact your hands have with your face and mouth. If you know someone who is affected, it would be wise to avoid close contact with that person. Another way to help you and the people around you is by covering your coughs and sneezes.

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What exactly is Streptococcus pneumoniae in Microbiology terms?

This is a lancet-shaped, gram-positive, facultative anaerobic bacterium

There are 100 various strains of this and all of them fall under 2 types of pneumococcal disease.

1. Noninvasive: more common, less serious, doesn't affect major organs or bloodstream

2. Invasive: more severe, less common, affects the blood, major organs, and in some cases bones and brain

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Some mild symptoms of pneumococcus infections are a stiff neck, fever, coughing, swelling, nasal congestion, headaches, and fatigue. However, for the cases that are a little more severe, you might experience chest pains, sensitivity to light, difficulty breathing, fever, chills, and sweating.

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Streptococcal pneumonia spreads easily within large crowds where people are closer and touching more. This pathogen only travels directly (person to person). This can be through respiratory droplets such as coughing and sneezing.

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Treatment options for pneumococcus vary depending on the severity of the infection and what has been affected by it. For mild cases where blood and major organs are not affected; fluids, pain relievers, rest, and antibiotics are recommended. However, for the more severe cases where the blood and organs are affected, hospitalization is necessary for monitoring and other treatments.

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Children 2-5 years and adults 65 years and older are at the most risk for acquiring the Streptococcus pneumoniae pathogen. Children however are more susceptible to be carriers of the pathogen and can carry longer than adults do.

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Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of acute otitis media (AOM), which is an infection of the middle ear. This causes drainage and can lead to children having tympanostomy tubes (ear drains) put in to prevent fluid buildup.

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In addition to causing primary infections like pneumonia and meningitis, Streptococcus pneumoniae can lead to complications such as pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs), empyema (pus in the pleural cavity), and brain abscesses.

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Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in children under five years old and in low-income countries. Ongoing research is focused on developing new vaccines and treatments to combat antibiotic-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae and to provide broader protection against various serotypes.

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Streptococcus pneumoniae is a pathogen that causes more than one type of disease. Pictured above is bacterial meningitis, which is an infection of the brain and spinal cord membrane lining. Other diseases that you can get from this pathogen are...

Bacteremia: blood infection

Pneumonia: lung infection

Osteomyelitis: bone infection

Septic Arthritis: joint infection

Septicemia: bacteria in the blood

Sepsis: infection of tissues and organs

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Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of pneumococcal pneumonia, an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The alveoli, tiny air sacs shown in the image, can fill with fluid or pus, leading to symptoms such as cough, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. Pneumococcal pneumonia can be particularly severe in young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Understanding the structure of the lungs helps illustrate how this pathogen can disrupt normal respiratory function and highlights the importance of vaccination and good hygiene practices in preventing infection