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Streptococcus pneumoniae is a gram-positive, lancet-shaped bacterium. Pneumococcal infections are present throughout the world and are most prevalent during the winter and early spring months. Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria cause pneumococcal disease. These bacteria are often found in the noses and throats of healthy people, especially children. Illness develops when the bacteria spread and set up infection in your body.

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S. pneumoniae bacteria can cause many types of infections, including:

Pneumonia (lung infection)

inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli.

Meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord)

acute or chronic inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, collectively called the meninges.

Bacteremia (bloodstream infection)

Bloodstream infections are infections of blood caused by blood-borne pathogens.

Otitis media (middle ear infection)

Sinusitis (sinus infection)

inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the sinuses

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Causes?

Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria cause pneumococcal disease.

How is it acquired?

People spread pneumococcal bacteria to others through direct contact with respiratory secretions, like saliva or mucus. Many people, especially children, have the bacteria in their nose or throat at one time or another without being ill. Experts call this "carriage," and it only rarely leads to sickness.

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Who is at higher risk? Who gets it?

Age, conditions, and other factors can increase someone’s risk for pneumococcal disease. Children younger than 5 years old and adults 65 years or older are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease. Experts don't know why, but people of certain racial and ethnic groups have increased rates of pneumococcal disease. For example Alaska Native people, African American people, and certain American Indian people. Chronic conditions and other factors that increase someone's risk for pneumococcal disease include, alcoholism, cerebrospinal fluid leak, Chronic heart, kidney, liver, or lung disease, cigarette smoking, cochlear implants, and diabetes.

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Prevention:

People can get pneumococcal disease more than once. Healthcare providers generally don't prescribe antibiotics after exposure to help prevent someone from getting a pneumococcal infection. However, there are steps people can take to help protect themselves. Vaccination is the best way to prevent pneumococcal disease. CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all children younger than 5 years old. People 5 through 64 years old with certain risk conditions and adults 65 years or older.

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Treatments:

Healthcare providers use antibiotics to treat pneumococcal disease. However, some pneumococcal bacteria have become resistant to certain antibiotics used to treat these infections. Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics can treat most pneumococcal infections. The length of time needed for treatment and the type of antibiotic may be different depending on where the infection is or how serious the infection is. Antibiotic testing shows which antibiotics will be most successful at treating the infection.

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It usually takes 1 to 3 days for pneumonia symptoms to appear after S. pneumoniae bacteria enter someone's body. Symptoms of pneumococcal disease vary based on the location and severity of the infection. Older adults may experience confusion or low alertness, rather than the more common symptoms listed below. In babies, meningitis may cause poor eating and drinking, low alertness, and vomiting. In the case of mild infections, you may experience pain, fever or swelling of your affected body part.

In the case of pneumonia, you may have:

Chest pain.

Cough.

Difficulty breathing.

Fever or chills

https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/signs-symptoms/index.html