Pneumococcal disease
Pneumococcal disease is caused by infection with a bacterium called Streptococcus pneumoniae (also known as pneumococcus). Pneumococcus often live harmlessly in the nose and throat but can sometimes move into other parts of the body and cause some people to become unwell.
There are 2 main types of pneumococcal disease:
- Non-invasive pneumococcal disease - a milder, more common illness, such as middle ear infection (otitis media) or sinusitis.
- Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) – a serious infection that occurs when the bacteria enters a major organ (such as the brain, lungs or bloodstream). People with IPD are often very sick, and can lead to long-term complications or death.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms often depend on where the infection occurs and the person’s age. Symptoms usually start 1-3 days after exposure to the bacteria, and can include:
- Fever and chills.
- Cough, chest pain and shortness of breath (pneumonia).
- Ear pain.
- Headache, stiff neck, or sensitivity to light.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Feeling confused or drowsy.
- Tiredness or weakness.
- Rash or purple spots on the skin.
Seek medical advice or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) if you develop any of the symptoms above. Urgent treatment may be required if symptoms appear suddenly or get worse.
Treatment
Treatment may include antibiotics, medicines to control fever and pain, and fluids to prevent dehydration.
People with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) often need care in hospital, especially if they have a serious infection, such as pneumonia, meningitis or sepsis.
After recovery, you may have ongoing monitoring by a healthcare provider to check for any lasting effects, such as hearing or breathing problems, and vaccination to reduce the risk of future infections.
Transmission
Pneumococcal bacteria spread easily from person to person, including through droplets from coughs or sneezes, or by touching items contaminated with saliva or mucus. Pneumococcal infections occur more often during the colder months, particularly in winter and early spring, when other respiratory infections are common.
People are usually not considered infectious 24 hours after starting antibiotics, and once they are feeling well.
Prevention
Get vaccinated.
Pneumococcal vaccination protects against the most common and serious types of pneumococcus. Vaccination is the best protection against pneumococcal disease and is recommended and funded for the following groups:
- Infants and children less than 5 years.
- All adults aged 70 years and over.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 50 years and over.
- All people with specified medical risk conditions (e.g. weakened immunity, chronic lung or kidney disease, no functional spleen, etc.) that increase their risk of pneumococcal disease.
If you’re unsure whether you’ve been vaccinated, talk to your healthcare provider or check your immunisation record.
People without a functioning spleen can register with Spleen Australia, which provides free clinical support and vaccination reminders.
For details on who is eligible for free vaccinations, refer to the Immunisation Schedule Queensland or talk to your healthcare provider.
You can further reduce the risk of pneumococcal disease by keeping up to date with other available vaccines, such as influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations.
Other steps to help prevent infection include:
- Clean hands regularly with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub, especially after coughing, sneezing or handling used tissues.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick with respiratory infections.
- Avoid smoking and vaping, which can increase the risk of lung infections.
- Clean the environment, particularly hard horizontal surfaces, with household cleaning products.
Other resources
Help and assistance
If you are in an emergency, call 000
Get qualified health advice 24/7 for the cost of a local call, by calling 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
For further information, please contact your local doctor, community health centre or nearest public health unit.