Pronounced as ‘‘strep toh kok us nu mo nee ay ee’’ the streptococcus pneumoniae is a pneumonia causing bacteria in human beings. The pneumonia infections caused by streptococcus pneumoniae are more infectitious in children worldwide, the major harmful affects are found mostly in children. After affecting the upper respiratory tract streptococcus pneumoniae causes pneumonia. The effects of streptococcus pneumoniae are not only restricted to respiratory tract but also spreads in other parts of the body. It effects the bloodstream, inner lining of the brain and spinal cord, it also effects the joints, ears and even bones thus also causing sinus.
Statistics of people affected by streptococcus pneumoniae:
Going according to the report of centers for disease control and prevention, every year in U.S approximately there are 700 cases of meningitis caused by streptococcus pneumoniae, 17000 cases of bacteremia and some other types of invasive diseases in children mostly of age under 5 years. The children below 2 years of age are contracting middle ear infection caused by the pneumonia caused by streptococcus pneumoniae. The pneumonial infection are the most common cases of ear related disease in children, also streptococcus pneumoniae s the main cause of meningitis and pneumonia.
Streptococcus pneumoniae also causes death due to illness in elderly people, causing a high risk to that population of human beings. The infections also include heart disease diabetes and other chronic diseases. Streptococcus pneumoniae affects people with less resistive immunity and some certain ethnic groups of human population.
How does Streptococcus pneumoniae spreads among individuals?
The transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae is mainly due to the respiratory or even the droplet infection in human beings. There are people who carry this bacterium in their throats and do not get ill; they too cause this infection through nose of mouth contact.
How it can be treated?
The Streptococcus pneumoniae infections are basically treated by antibiotics, but due to excessive use of antibiotics many bacteria have become resistive to their effects.
Can Streptococcus pneumoniae infection be prevented?
Recently a new licensed drug was released by the U.S food and drug administration for the prevention of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections; this is helpful in preventing the infection in infants and children. This vaccine links the bacteria to the stereotype protein so that the effects of Streptococcus pneumoniae can be highly reduced. Two other vaccines for highly susceptible people are also been recommended by the drug administration.
Preventing the Streptococcus pneumoniae infection is a challenge due to insufficient supply of vaccines. This problem also increases because there are no efficient methods to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae infections. The overuse of antibiotics is also causing high resistance against them.