Pneumococcal disease

• Vaccination with pneumococcal vaccine helps to protect against pneumococcal disease. All babies in Aotearoa New Zealand can be immunised against pneumococcal disease as part of their free childhood immunisations.
• Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae (also called pneumococcus). It's found in the throat of healthy people where it doesn't cause any problems. But it can spread from there to cause infections in different parts of your body.
• It's easily passed from person to person by coughing, sneezing and close contact. Not everyone who catches or carries the bacteria gets sick.
• The infection can range from mild to severe, and can be life-threatening.
• If the infection is in your lungs (pneumonia), blood (septicaemia) or brain (meningitis), you may have some of the following:
  • sudden fever
  • shaking/chills
  • cough
  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain
  • stiff neck
  • disorientation
  • sensitivity to light. You will need urgent hospital treatment.
• Those most at risk of getting sick are babies, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. It's more common among Māori and Pasifika populations.
• Pneumococcal disease is treated with antibiotics.

Those most at risk of serious disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria are:

• babies under 1 year but children under 5 years are also at risk
• people with a weakened immune system 
• adults over 55 to 65 years of age
• Māori and Pasifika.

Being in daycare or around people who smoke, and living with lots of other people can also increase your risk of getting pneumococcal disease.

Depending on whether the infection is in your lungs, blood or brain, you may have some of the following:

• sudden fever
• shaking/chills
• cough
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• stiff neck
• disorientation
• sensitivity to light.

You will need to see a doctor immediately for treatment. A baby or young child may only have fever and be irritable. 

Find out about the symptoms of the following conditions that can be caused by Strep pneumoniae: 

• Sinusitis (sinus infection).
• Ear infections.
• Pneumonia (lung infection).
• Septicaemia (blood poisoning).
• Meningitis (brain and spinal cord infection).

Your healthcare provider will diagnose and treat pneumococcal disease based on your symptoms and test results. Tests may include taking samples of blood, phlegm, or even some of the fluid bathing your spinal cord (if meningitis is a worry).

Read about the diagnosis and treatment of conditions caused by Strep pneumoniae:

• Sinusitis (sinus infection).
• Ear infections.
• Pneumonia (lung infection).
• Septicaemia (blood poisoning).
• Meningitis (brain and spinal cord infection).

Vaccination of babies, adults over 65 years of age and those at increased risk due to underlying medical conditions, can greatly help to prevent pneumococcal disease and bacterial spread.

It's very difficult to avoid coming into contact with the bacteria that cause this illness, so as well as being vaccinated you can reduce your chances of becoming infected or infecting others by:

• regularly washing your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand gel
• covering your nose and mouth with your arm or a tissue when you cough or sneeze
• avoiding smoking and reducing contact with smokers.

Apps reviewed by Healthify

You may find it useful to look at some Baby care apps and First aid and emergency apps.

Babies and young children are at higher risk of infection because their immune system is not fully developed. They can be protected by having the pneumococcal vaccine. The rate of pneumococcal disease in children under the age of 2 years has halved since vaccination was introduced. 

Pneumococcal vaccine is free as part of the National Immunisation Schedule in Aotearoa New Zealand.

• The vaccine is given by injection in the arm or leg, depending on the age and size of the child.
• Children and adults with particular medical conditions that increase their risk of pneumococcal disease (eg, chronic lung or heart problems, weakened immune systems, or cochlear implants) are eligible for funded pneumococcal immunisation.  
• If you are over 65 years of age, ask your healthcare provider about having the pneumococcal vaccine. It’s one of the best ways to help you stay well over winter.

Read more about the pneumococcal vaccine.