pneumococcus
We often hear that cancer and heart disease are the killers of diseases. In fact, common diseases such as pneumonia cannot be ignored. It ranks second in the top ten causes of death in 2021, second only to cancer. In addition to the old and the young, special attention should be paid to pneumonia. There are also many cases in the 50-64 age group. Vaccination can be considered to prevent infection.
Cao Zhonghao, a specialist in the Department of Respiratory System, said that pneumococcus is common in the nose and throat of healthy people, especially in children. When the immune system is normal, it will not affect health. “The germ is mainly spread through droplets from coughing and sneezing, close contact with a sick person, or touching objects contaminated with pneumococcus.”
Can cause multiple complications
Cao Zhonghao continued, “Many long-term patients are infected with pneumococcus due to weakened immunity. For example, prostate cancer is not necessarily fatal, and some of them eventually die of pneumonia.” On the other hand, pneumococcus can also cause a variety of fatal complications , For example, if it goes into the blood vessel to cause bacteremia and septicemia, and then goes to other parts of the body; if it goes to the ear, it will cause otitis media, and repeated infection can damage hearing; if it goes to the brain and causes meningitis, it may cause confusion or even death.
Decreased immunity without knowing it
The elderly and young children are generally considered to be a group with weaker immunity, but in the face of pneumococcus, adults aged 50 to 64 should also be careful, because the number of infection cases in this group is second only to the elderly, and the rate of meningitis after infection up to 60%, higher than the 51% of the elders. Cao Zhonghao explained, “Many people over 50 have diabetes, chronic heart disease, kidney disease, etc., or have mild symptoms without symptoms, and they don’t know they are sick; and because they are still active in social interaction, they will increase the risk of infection.”
pneumococcus
pneumococcus
Serotype 3 is worse
Over a hundred serotypes of pneumococcus have been discovered so far, about 30 of which can cause human infection, and the most common serotype in Hong Kong is serotype 3, which is responsible for about half of invasive pneumococcal infections. Serum type 3 pneumococcus can cause complications such as heart disease and pulmonary edema, and the mortality rate of patients can be as high as 47%. In addition, it produces 54% to 71% resistance to the commonly used antibiotics erythromycin and tetracycline, making treatment more difficult.
Although the current 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine covers serotype 3, its protection is insufficient, allowing the bacteria to continue to wreak havoc. The new-generation 15-valent vaccine is improved for serotype 3 to induce a stronger immune response. The study found that the immunogenicity of the 15-valent vaccine was comparable to that of the 13-valent vaccine, which could provide sufficient protection and additionally cover the two serotypes 22F and 33F; while for serotype 3, the immunogenicity of the 15-valent vaccine was higher than that of the 13-valent vaccine. The vaccine is about 60% higher.
get vaccinated early
A 64-year-old woman with diabetes and bronchiectasis was admitted to the hospital because of severe pneumonia and septicemia. After examination, it was confirmed that pneumococcal septicemia was caused by pneumococcus. Drainage and testing of the right pleural effusion also showed that the bacteria had invaded the lungs department. Due to the severity of the condition, the patient had to stay in the intensive care unit for up to a month, and needed to arrange a tracheostomy and use a ventilator for a long time. Now that he has been discharged from the hospital, his condition has gradually improved, but his physical condition is worse than before. Cao Zhonghao believes that the case highlights that people with low immunity should be vigilant and get vaccinated early for prevention, especially those aged 50 to 64 who do not have government subsidies, and can discuss with their doctors which vaccine is more suitable.
2023-07-05 20:30:23
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