WHAT IS PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE?
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium that causes much illness and
death in the United States each year This bacterium, also called the
Pneumococcus can cause serious infections of the lungs (pneumonia)
the bloodstream (bacteremia) and the covering of the brain (meningitis).
About 5 persons out of every 100 who get pneumococcal pneumonia about
20 out of every 100 who get hooter- amid, and about 30 out of every
100 who get meningitis die of the infections.
Anyone can get pneumococcal
disease however, persons over 65 years of age. the very young, and
persons of any age who have special types of health problems have
the greatest risk. What you need to know before you or your child
gets the vaccine People are more likely to die from pneumococcal disease
if they have problems such as alcoholism heal or lung disease, kidney
failure, diabetes, or certain types of cancer Older persons as a group
are more likely to die from pneumococcal disease. Forty out of every
100 persons who have these special health problems die if they get
pneumococcal meningitis The high risk of death occurs in spite of
treatment with drugs like penicillin. Because of the risk of serious
complications from pneumococcal infection, vaccination is recommended
for older persons and for children and adults with special health
problems.
PNEUMOCOCCAL POLYSACCHARIDE VACCINE:
The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine contains material from the
23 types at pneumococcal bacteria that cause 88 percent of pneumococcal
bacteremias. Most healthy adults who receive the vaccine develope
protection against most or all of these types of pneumococcal bacteria
2-3 weeks after vaccination.
|
Older persons and those with some long-term
illnesses may not respond as well or at all. Children under 2 years
of age are also not protected by the vaccine. The vaccine probably
provides long- term protection for most people. However, some people may lose protection about six years after vaccination
and require revaccination Persons in need of revaccination are discussed
in the "Revaccination' section. The vaccine is given by injection.
Who should recieve
the VACCINE? Vaccination is recommended for the following.
Adults:
- All adults aged 55 years and older and adults
of all ages with previous serious pneumococcal infections such
as meningitis or sepsis (infection in the blood) or with long-term
illnesses that are associated with a high risk of getting pneumococcal
disease, Including those with heart or lung diseases, diabetes,
alcoholism, cirrhosis ' or leaks of cerebrospina fluid (CSF the
fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord).
- Adults with diseases
that lower the body a resistance to infections or who are taking
drugs that lower the body a resistance to infections, including
those with abnormal function or removal of the spleen Hodgkin
a disease, lymphoma, multiple myeloma kidney failure, nephrotic
syndrome (a type of kidney disease) or conditions such as organ
transplantation.
- Adults with and without symptoms who are infected
with the AIDS virus (HIV infection).
|
