Pneumonia is a fairly common lung disease and pneumococcal pneumonia infects the upper respiratory tract of a person. It can spread to lungs, middle ear, blood and even the nervous system. Pneumococcal pneumonia is mainly responsible for causing illness among children who are smaller than 2 years of age and in adults who are more than 65 years of age.

The elderly individuals are at particular risk of suffering and dying from this condition. Likewise individuals with some illnesses like chronic lung, heart and liver diseases, HIV infections can also get pneumococcal pneumonia. Those with sickle cell anemia, AIDS or those who have had organ transplants can also get this disease.

The streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria are responsible for causing pneumococcal pneumonia and these bacteria are also called pneumococcus. This condition can be spread by contact with a person who is carrying the bacteria in his/her throat. The bacteria can be spread through respiratory droplets from mouth or nose of infected individuals.

It is estimated that S pneumonia result in 40,000 deaths every year and 500,000 pneumonia cases occur in America. African Americans are twice as likely to suffer from pneumococcal pneumonia as compared to white people. This condition also causes meningitis in 3000 cases while bacteremia is observed in 50,000 cases and inner ear infection may be observed in 7 million cases.

The symptoms associated with pneumococcal pneumonia may be experienced quite suddenly. A person may get a severe shaking chill and this may be followed by cough, high fever, rapid breathing, chest pains and shortness of breath. Some other symptoms associated with this condition include vomiting, nausea, headache, muscle aches and tiredness.

The pneumococcal pneumonia in adults may affect a single or multiple parts of the lung and these are called lobes. Therefore this condition is also called lobar pneumonia. The remaining respiratory system may not be affected. As against this among infants and young children as well as elderly individuals a mild infection may be observed in some others parts or sections of the lungs. This infection may be observed in the areas of the air vessels or bronchi and it causes bronchopneumonia.

The diagnosis of this condition is made based on the physical symptoms observed in patients along with a physical examination, chest x-ray and lab tests. The treatment of this condition requires the patients to take some antibiotics. After starting the treatment the symptoms associated with this condition tend to go away in around 12 to 36 hours.

Antibiotic resistance particularly from certain bacteria like S. Pneumoniae has been increasing in recent times. Pneumococcal pneumonia infection can be prevented by taking the pneumococcal vaccine. This vaccine is available for children as well as adults. This vaccine can be administered if the person is 65 years of age or older.

Individuals with serious health issues like heart disease, alcoholism, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, lung disease and sickle cell disease can also take this vaccine. Likewise those suffering from leukemia, lymphoma and HIV infection or AIDS should also take this vaccine. Children and babies are also recommended to take this vaccine.

There are some possible complications associated with pneumococcal pneumonia. The bacteria causing this infection may invade a person’s bloodstream and this is called bacteremia. This complication can result in some heart problems as well as lung problems.