Overview

Pneumococcal disease is a serious infection caused by a bacteria called pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae). It often causes ear and sinus infections but can also spread to parts of the body where bacteria aren’t usually found. This is called invasive pneumococcal disease and can lead to serious illnesses like pneumonia, blood infections, or meningitis (swelling around the brain and spinal cord).

Children under 2, adults 65 and older, Alaska Native adults 50 and older, and people with certain health conditions are at higher risk.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Mild cases don't usually cause complications, but serious cases can lead to lasting health issues or death.

Symptoms depend on the infected body part and are similar to other bacterial infections. For most types, except pneumonia, it's unclear how long symptoms take to appear after infection.

Diagnosis requires specific lab tests used for different types of infections.

Serious Infections

Pneumonia (lung infection)

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Symptoms include:

  • Chest pain
  • Cough
  • Fever and chills
  • Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing

Older adults may experience confusion or low alertness, instead of the more common symptoms above.

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

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Symptoms include:

  • Confusion
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Photophobia (eyes being more sensitive to light)
  • Stiff neck

In babies, meningitis may cause poor eating and drinking, low alertness, and vomiting.

Bacteremia (infection of the bloodstream)

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Symptoms include:

  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Low alertness

Mild Infections

Ear infection

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Symptoms of ear infections include:

  • A red, swollen ear drum
  • Ear pain
  • Fever
  • Sleepiness

Sinus infection

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Symptoms of sinus infections include:

  • Bad breath
  • Cough
  • Facial pain or pressure
  • Headache
  • Post-nasal drip (mucus dripping down the throat)
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Sore throat

Treatment

Health care providers treat pneumococcal disease with antibiotics. They may do testing to show which antibiotics will work best.

Prevention

There are vaccines available to prevent pneumococcal disease in children and adults.

Reporting

Laboratories should submit all S. pneumoniae isolates associated with invasive disease to the Arctic Investigations Program for serotyping. For information on shipping isolates call 907-729-3400.

Resources

Related Organizations