BE AWARE OF PENUMOCOCCUS
By Dr. Luis Suarez*
Streptococcus pneumoniae, bacteria known as the pneumococcus, remains an important pathogen in spite of advances in medical care. Around the world, as many as 1 million children die of pneumococcal infections each year, mainly in developing countries. Pneumococcal disease is also common in industrialized countries, although in those settings nearly all such deaths occur in older adults or adults with chronic medical conditions, like Diabetes Mellitus, cancer, heart diseases. Given its place near the top of the list of killer bacteria, pneumococcus is a focus of numerous researchers around the world. A great advance against these bacteria was production of a VACCINE; unfortunately this vaccine is underused between adult and older patients.
The most common clinical problems this bacteria cause is PNEUMONIA, but also it is responsible for MENINGITIS, OTITIS MEDIA, SINUSITIS, PERITONITIS and ARTHRITIS. Transmission occurs person to person through the air, when people carrying the bacteria in their respiratory system cough, sneeze, talk or spit. It is often found in the noses and throats of healthy-asymptomatic persons (carriers), who spread the bacteria to less-resistant patients.
Death occurs in 14-30% of hospitalized adults with invasive disease. Neurologic sequelaes occur in patients with meningitis and hearing impairment can result from otitis media. Person at higher risk are the elderly, children under 2 years old, and persons with underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease, SMOKERS, Alcoholism, or conditions that suppress the immune system, such HIV infection and tumors. Pneumoccoccal disease is more common in winter months.
RISK TO TRAVELLERS AND PEOPLE LIVING ABROAD
This disease occurs worldwide. Travelers and those who have decided living abroad and have chronic conditions (or heavy smokers) SHOULD BE VACCINATED. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is considered safe, and must be a routine vaccination for everyone aged above 65 years. Revaccination after 3-5 years is indicated depending on age and accompanied medical conditions,
REMEMBER that immunization is part of PREVENTIVE MEDICINE- the best (and the cheapest) Medicine. It is obviously cheaper to have a vaccination (US $40.00-50.00) versus Antibiotic Treatment (US $500.00-1000.00 without be hospitalized)
