Common signs and symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia
Bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible for all kinds of pneumococcal infections. The bacterium is also known as pneumococcus. Pneumococcus, or singular pneumococci, is found in the upper respiratory tract of healthy people, and this bacterium is the only reason behind pneumococcal pneumonia.

There can be many types or serotypes of pneumococci. Serotypes refer to close related family of microorganisms, where they can only be distinguished by slight changes in the antigens found in the body of the bacterium. An antigen is defined as a foreign substance responsible for producing antibodies.

What is pneumococcal pneumonia?

• Pneumococcal pneumonia is defined as a disease that seriously infects the lungs of a person and thus can be fatal.
• This disease mostly affects the elderly and infants.
• Even though the outbreak of this disease is very rare, when an outbreak does occur, it is mainly in adults living in substandard, crowded conditions.

Who is at a higher risk of contracting pneumococcal pneumonia?
Even though this pneumonia disease mostly affects the elderly people or people having some serious medical conditions, the following people are also at a high risk:

• Children below the age of 2 years
• Children living under group childcare
• People who are living in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islands.

How does pneumococcal pneumonia spread?

• The main or primary way by which pneumococcal pneumonia is spread is when a person carrying the disease coughs, talks, or even sneezes, thereby releasing all the harmful germs in the air.
• These harmful germs released into the air, when inhaled by another person, cause the infection to spread and affect that person as well.
• Apart from this, the disease can also be spread via any type of contact, with tissues, hands, or by coming in direct contact with the person.
• These infections are most common during winters and therefore may be triggered by any kind of viral infections.

What are its signs and symptoms?
Infections of this disease are mostly caused in the middle ear, lungs, the bloodstream, the sinuses, or the meninges (the linings of the spinal cord and brain). The symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia are as listed:

• Experiencing chills and shaking
• A persistent cough
• Having chest pain when breathing in and out
• Fever
• Facing shortness of breath
• Experiencing drowsiness
• Blood stained phlegm while coughing

How is pneumococcal pneumonia diagnosed?

• Pneumococcal pneumonia is mostly diagnosed by microscopic examination and also by any kind of growth of bacteria from the blood.
• Specimens or even phlegm is examined.
• PCR or Polymerase Chain Reaction is done in a pathological laboratory.

What are the incubation and infectious periods for this disease?

• The incubation period of this disease is usually 3 to 4 days, but it can even take 1-10 days.
• An effective antibiotic treatment will make the patient non-infectious normally within 24 hours.
• It is not recommended to give any kind of antibiotics to people who are not sick.
• People should not be near patients who are infected with the disease, as they can run the risk of acquiring pneumonia.

What are some of the prevention techniques of this disease?

• Always remember to wash your hands very well after touching your nose or feet. Also, before eating food, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly.
• It is recommended that you cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away. After, that wash your hands immediately.
• Plan to not share eating or kitchen utensils with anyone.
• Make sure that you keep a safe distance from a person who is suffering from pneumonia, and also take safety measures so that you don’t contract the infection.
• It has been reported that people who drink an excessive amount of alcohol are very susceptible to pneumococcal infections. So be sure to at least lower your alcohol intake if you want a healthier lifestyle.

There are vaccinations available for both children and adults. Therefore, taking such vaccinations will hugely lower your risk of getting a pneumococcal infection by making your body more resistant to infections.