What is pneumococcal disease?
Pneumococcal disease happens when you get infected with bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus. This disease includes many kinds of infections, like ear and sinus infections, and also serious ones such as pneumonia and bloodstream infections. But don’t worry, vaccines are available to help you avoid getting pneumococcal disease.
What are the symptoms of pneumococcal disease?
If you’re dealing with pneumococcal disease, you might experience a fever, chills, chest pain, cough (often with rusty sputum), difficulty breathing, weakness, feeling really sick, and sometimes a stiff neck. If it’s a severe case, you can also experience ear pain, headache, and disorientation. Quick diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are super important to manage the disease.
What are the risk factors for pneumococcal disease?
Certain health issues and habits can raise the chances of getting sick with pneumococcal disease. These include having ongoing respiratory problems like COPD, asthma, and chronic bronchitis, smoking, having diabetes, heart disease, drinking alcohol excessively, or having a weakened immune system. If you have any of these, you might be at a higher risk of getting pneumococcal disease.
What is the difference between pneumococcal disease and pneumonia?
Pneumococcal disease is a fancy term that includes different types of infections caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, including pneumonia. Pneumonia is when your lungs get infected and can happen because of this bacteria or other bad germs. Pneumococcal disease can also cause other bad stuff like infections in your blood, meningitis, and ear infections. So, if you have pneumonia, that means you have pneumococcal disease, but it’s just the kind that affects your lungs.
Can pneumococcal disease be prevented with vaccines?
You can prevent pneumococcal disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria through vaccines. These vaccines are recommended in the United States to protect against many common types of pneumococcal bacteria. It is crucial to follow vaccination recommendations, mainly for children under 5 years old, individuals aged 5-64 at increased risk, and adults 65 years or older, to reduce the risk of getting pneumococcal disease.
Cost and availability
The cost of pneumococcal vaccination can vary based on factors such as the type of vaccine, brand, manufacturer, applicable taxes, and the vaccination service provider. The cost of the vaccine can range from Rs 1,495 to Rs 3,801 per dose if administered at a private hospital. You can get pneumococcal vaccines in Bangalore at Altius Hospitals. If you believe you have nay of the symptoms, get yourself tested today.
