What is
pneumococcal disease?
Pneumococcal
disease is an infection caused by the germ or bacterium called Streptococcus
pneumoniae.
- S. Pneumoniae
can cause problems ranging from the relatively minor, such as otitis media
(infection of the middle ear) to very serious disease such as meningitis
(inflammation of the lining of the brain), bacteraemia (blood poisoning) and
pneumonia.
- The risk of
infection is highest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people
with specific medical conditions and immunity problems.
- Children under
the age of 2 who live in Central Australia are also considered to be at
significantly more risk than children of their age who live in other areas of
Australia.
How is it
spread?
- S. pneumoniae
usually live harmlessly in the throats of healthy people.
- In some
instances the infection can invade other areas of the body to cause more serious
illness, particularly in the high risk groups.
How is it
diagnosed and treated?
- Doctors can
diagnose pneumococcal disease by looking for signs of the bacteria in the
infected part of the body. This may involve a blood test or testing of an
affected person’s respiratory secretions.
- A chest x-ray
can also be used to help diagnose pneumococcal pneumonia.
- Treatment for
pneumococcal disease includes specific types of antibiotics to fight infection.
Penicillin, for example, is commonly used
How is it
prevented?
There are many
known strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Not all of these strains cause
invasive pneumococcal disease. Most of the strains that commonly cause disease
are preventable by vaccination.
Vaccination is
strongly recommended for groups at risk.
These
include:
- All children
under the age of two.
- All Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of fifty.
- Adults and
children who have problems with their immune system.
- Adults and
children with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, lung or kidney disease.
- Adults and
children without a spleen or whose spleen does not work properly.
- People over the
age of sixty-five.
- Tobacco
smokers.
Free
pneumococcal vaccine is available to the following groups via their local GP or
local council clinic:
- All children
born after the 1st of January 2003.
Those born between 1/1/2003 and 31/12/2004 are eligible for free vaccine
during 2005 only.
- Children under
5 with specific risk factors.
- All people over
65 years of age.
- Indigenous
people over 50 years of age.
- Indigenous
people 15-50 years considered at high risk.
For all other
groups vaccine is available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and you need
to discuss this with your doctor.
For more
information:
Contact the
Public and Environmental Health Service on 1800 671 738.
Invasive
pneumococcal infection is a notifiable disease.