Pneumonia:

• inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, potentially causing them to fill with fluid or pus

Meningitis:

• Infection of the meninges (brain and spinal cord coverings).

Otitis Media

• Middle Ear Infection

Sinusitis:

• Infection of the sinuses

Bacteremia and Sepsis:

• Spread of bacteria into the bloodstream.

Bronchitis (in some cases):

• Inflammation of the bronchial tubes

Mode of Transmission:

• Person-to-person via respiratory droplets colonized in the nasopharynx

Risk Factors:

• Weakened immune system

• Young children (<2 years old)

• Elderly (>65 years old)

• Chronic diseases (like diabetes, heart disease, lung disease)

• Smoking and alcohol abuse

• Recent respiratory viral infections

Symptoms: sudden fever, chills, productive cough with rusty sputum, chest pain.

Meningitis:

• Symptoms: headache, neck stiffness, photo phobia, confusion, seizures.

Otitis Media:

• Especially common in young children.

• Symptoms: ear pain, fever, irritability

• Bronchitis (in some cases):

  • cough and mucus production.

  • Sinusitis:

    • congestion, facial pain, headache

  • Bacteremia and Sepsis:

  • Symptoms: fever, chills, low blood pressure, organ dysfunction.

Conservative Medications: Oral Antibiotics, Antivirals, Antifungals, Cough suppressants, Pain / Fever reducers, Breathing treatments, Nasal sprays

Aggressive Therapy: Inpatient hospitalization care of Oxygen Therapy , IV fluids / antibiotics, Draining of fluids, Organ therapy support

Treatment Course: Treatment can be as short as 5-7 days for non-complicated viruses and infections to greater than 14-21 day depending on the complexity and aggressiveness of the progression of the virus or bacteria

Type: Gram-positive, encapsulated, facultative anaerobe.

Shape: Lancet-shaped diplococci (appear in pairs).

Culture: Grows best on blood or chocolate agar; shows α-hemolysis (green discoloration).

Capsule: Over 90 different capsular serotypes; the capsule is anti-phagocytic and essential for virulence.