Hello, this is Pharmacist Kim. The weather has become quite chilly. We have entered the season where we need to take extra care of our immunity to avoid catching colds or flu. As it is the end of October, the number of flu patients has increased these days.
Today I would like to talk about pneumonia, which can also occur as a complication of the flu. Pneumonia, simply put, is a disease that causes inflammation in the lungs. When viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms enter our respiratory tract through the air or through coughing and cause inflammation in the lungs, it becomes difficult to breathe and symptoms such as fever, cough, and chest pain may appear.
Pneumonia can be caused by various microorganisms for various reasons, but bacteria called pneumococci are known to be one of the main causes of pneumonia. What is a coccus? Cocci is a word that refers to the shape of bacteria. When viewed through a microscope, pneumococci appear round and circular, like a ball.
It is a bacteria that causes pneumonia and is called pneumococcus because it has a round shape. So, what percentage of pneumococci, one of the main causes of pneumonia, accounts for all causes?
According to data, about 30% of cases of pneumonia are caused by round pneumococci. Currently, among the vaccines that prevent pneumonia, there is no vaccine that prevents pneumonia caused by other microorganisms, and a vaccine that prevents pneumonia caused by pneumococci, which accounts for about 30% of cases, has been developed.
So, if you get the pneumococcal vaccine, how effective will it be? According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the preventive effect is approximately 65%. So, if you calculate by multiplying the two ratios, the effectiveness of getting the pneumococcal vaccine in preventing pneumonia is only about 20%.
Therefore, since pneumonia can be caused by various other microorganisms, we should not rely solely on the pneumococcal vaccine to prevent pneumonia, but should maintain thorough personal hygiene, always emphasize sufficient sleep and proper nutrition, and exercise appropriately to ensure good immune function. This is something that needs to be maintained.
And as explained at the beginning of the article, the representative complication of the flu is pneumonia, so during flu season months like these, if you have a weak immune function, we recommend that you get the flu vaccine when your health is at least good. I repeat, pneumonia can come from a variety of causes, so you should not rely solely on the pneumococcal vaccine, but the fact remains that the main cause of pneumonia is pneumococcus.
Therefore, even if the pneumonia prevention rate due to the pneumococcal vaccine is lower than expected, if you are a patient with a chronic disease or have a weak immune system, it is recommended to consult with a respiratory doctor and receive the pneumococcal vaccine. So, shall we briefly learn about the pneumococcal vaccine? There are currently 13-valent and 23-valent pneumococcal vaccines.
The names 13th and 23rd are a bit unfamiliar, right? To explain it simply, just as there are various types of apple fruit, such as red aroe, cute Ruby’s, Japanese Fuji, and sweet and sour Arisu, pneumococcus can be divided into about 90 types depending on the shape of the protein or polysaccharide on the surface of the coccus. there is.
Differences between 13-valent and 23-valent vaccines
The vaccine that is effective in preventing 13 types of pneumococcus out of 90 types of pneumococcus is called the 13-valent vaccine, and the vaccine that is effective in preventing 23 types of pneumococcus is called the 23-valent vaccine.
Does the terminology seem easier now? So, is the 23-valent vaccine a better vaccine because it prevents pneumonia caused by more pneumococci? Otherwise, each vaccine has its pros and cons. The 23-valent vaccine has a wide range of immunity against pneumococci, but has the disadvantage of being effective for less than 5 years.
In comparison, the 13-valent vaccine has a narrow immunity range, but has the advantage of lasting longer than 23-valent vaccines, with lasting effects of more than 4 years. So why does the effect of the 13-valent vaccine last longer than 4 years?
Vaccines usually use polysaccharides or proteins that are part of pathogens to train and remember our body’s immune system. The 23-valent vaccine consists only of polysaccharides, while the 13-valent vaccine combines polysaccharides with proteins to form a vaccine, so it can train a wider variety of immune cells and last longer.
Specifically, the 13-valent vaccine trains and remembers our body so that T cells and B cells among immune cells can collaborate to form antibodies, while the 23-valent vaccine uses only B cells to form antibodies, so it is much more effective. It’s something that lasts a long time.
Currently, in Korea, seniors over 65 years of age are vaccinated with the 23-valent vaccine for free at nearby public health centers. In addition, how to administer the 13-valent vaccine and 23-valent vaccine and when to re-vaccination may vary depending on age and individual health status, and vaccination recommendations are changing over time, so consult a pulmonologist before vaccination. I personally recommend you do it.
Pneumonia can be caused by a variety of microorganisms, and it is often caused by various bacteria, including pneumococci. Therefore, if it is medically determined that pneumonia is caused by bacteria, antibiotics can be administered to kill the bacteria or inhibit their activity. .
Additionally, if fever occurs, antipyretic analgesics are administered and antitussive expectorants and bronchodilators are used to relieve the main symptoms of pneumonia such as coughing and phlegm.
Today we learned about pneumonia and the pneumococcal vaccine. Since the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, and those with chronic diseases are always exposed to the risk of pneumonia, we recommend that they always manage their health through thorough hygiene, appropriate exercise, and a balanced diet, and increase their prevention rate through the pneumococcal vaccine.
Additional text | This article was also published in the Wando Newspaper.
2023-10-27 01:29:00
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