What is pneumococcal pneumonia?

What is pneumococcal pneumonia?

WHAT IS PNEUMOCOCCAL PNEUMONIA?

Pneumococcal pneumonia is a serious infectious respiratory disease that can be prevented.1,2 Many people may think it is just a flu because pneumococcal pneumonia can also cause symptoms like high fever and cough,2,3 but it isn’t. Flu is caused by viruses, while pneumococcal pneumonia is caused by bacteria.4,5

This is how pneumococcal pneumonia can happen1,2,4,6:

Pneumococcal pneumonia is an infection caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae

Pneumococcal pneumonia is an infection caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae can spread from person to person through coughing or close contact

Streptococcus pneumoniae can spread from person to person through coughing or close contact

When the bacteria reach the lungs, they can cause some of the air sacs in the lungs to become inflamed and fill with fluid

When the bacteria reach the lungs, they can cause some of the air sacs in the lungs to become inflamed and fill with fluid

This can lead to symptoms such as chest pain, coughing, high fever, vomiting and difficulty breathing

This can lead to symptoms such as chest pain, coughing, high fever, vomiting and difficulty breathing

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You might be at increased risk of pneumococcal pneumonia if you are1,7:

Aged 2 years and above

with certain chronic conditions*

Learn more

 or

Aged 65 years and above

Learn more
*Chronic conditions could include1,7: Chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease, kidney or liver disease, diabetes, and conditions that weaken the immune system, such as HIV infection and cancer

Want to know your risk of developing pneumococcal pneumonia?

Answer a few simple questions now to learn more!

True or False?

You can get pneumococcal pneumonia anywhere, anytime.

True

False

True

That’s right.

You can get pneumococcal pneumonia anywhere, anytime, because the bacteria that cause pneumococcal pneumonia can spread from person to person through coughing or close contact.1,2 Moreover, symptoms like coughing and fatigue can appear quickly and without warning.2 Severe cases can lead to hospitalization.2

Understand your risk

False

The truth is, you can get pneumococcal pneumonia anywhere, anytime.

This is because the bacteria that cause pneumococcal pneumonia can spread from person to person through coughing or close contact.1,2 Moreover, symptoms like coughing and fatigue can appear quickly and without warning.2 Severe cases can lead to hospitalization.2

Understand your risk

See why you could be at higher risk

See why you
could be at
higher risk

Understand the symptoms and impact

Understand the
symptoms and
impact

Talk to your doctor

Talk to your
doctor

References:

  1. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. What is pneumococcal disease? Available at: www.nfid.org/infectious-disease/pneumococcal/. Accessed Jul 2023.
  2. American Lung Association. Get the facts about pneumococcal pneumonia. Available at: www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/pneumococcal. Accessed Jul 2023.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza (flu): Flu symptoms & complications. Available at: www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/symptoms.htm. Accessed Jul 2023.
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pneumococcal disease. Available at: www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/index.html. Accessed Jul 2023.
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About flu. Available at: www.cdc.gov/flu/about/index.html. Accessed Jul 2023.
  6. Mayo Clinic. Pneumonia: Symptoms & causes. Available at: www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pneumonia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354204. Accessed Jul 2023.
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pneumococcal disease: Risk factors & how it spreads. Available at: www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/about/risk-transmission.html. Accessed Jul 2023.