Pneumococcal disease: Symptoms and treatment
Pneumococcal disease is caused by bacteria and can result in mild and potentially serious infections.
On this page
- Symptoms of pneumococcal disease
- Complications of pneumococcal disease
- If you become ill
- Diagnosing pneumococcal disease
- Treating pneumococcal disease
Symptoms of pneumococcal disease
The pneumococcal bacteria causes different types of infections. Milder forms of pneumococcal infection can include:
- an ear infection (otitis media)
- a sinus infection (sinusitis)
- a lung infection (pneumonia)
Symptoms depend on the location and the severity of the infection. Symptoms of mild pneumococcal infection can include:
- fever
- ear pain
- headache
- stuffy nose
- cough with mucus
- difficulty breathing
Invasive pneumococcal disease
Invasive pneumococcal disease occurs when pneumococcal bacteria enter the blood stream, lungs or spinal fluid, and can cause an infection of the:
- blood (bacteremia)
- lungs and blood (pneumonia with bacteremia)
- lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
Symptoms of invasive pneumococcal disease vary depending on the location of the infection and can include:
- fever
- chills
- nausea
- vomiting
- being confused or less alert
- rapid or difficulty breathing
- cough with mucus
- rapid heartbeat
- stiff neck
- intense headache
- sensitivity to light
Symptoms for invasive pneumococcal disease may present differently in babies. They may:
- be less active
- vomit
- feed poorly
- be irritable or fussy
- be less alert
- have swelling on the soft spot of their head
Seek immediate medical attention if you or your child have any symptoms of invasive pneumococcal disease.
Complications of pneumococcal disease
Complications of pneumococcal disease depend on the location and the severity of the infection.
Invasive pneumococcal disease can be very severe and lead to serious complications, including death.
Long-term complications of the invasive form can include:
- hearing loss
- brain injury
- loss of limbs
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If you become ill
If you develop symptoms of pneumococcal disease, limit contact with others and contact a health care provider. Before you go to an in-person appointment, tell the health care provider about your symptoms over the phone and follow their instructions.
You can also help stop the spread of pneumococcal disease by using personal protective measures. This may include:
- wearing a well-fitting respirator or mask if you have to be around others
- covering your coughs and sneezes
- cleaning your hands regularly
Respiratory infectious diseases: Reduce your risk with personal protective measures
Diagnosing pneumococcal disease
Pneumococcal disease is diagnosed by laboratory test results.
Only a health care provider can diagnose pneumococcal disease. They will choose the most appropriate laboratory testing based on your symptoms. See a health care provider right away if you think you have symptoms of pneumococcal infection.
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If you're diagnosed with pneumococcal disease
If you're diagnosed with pneumococcal disease, your health care provider will decide on a course of treatment for your infection.
Your health care provider or laboratory will inform your local public health unit or office if you have an invasive pneumococcal infection. This is because of their reporting requirements.
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Treating pneumococcal disease
People with pneumococcal infections need to take antibiotics to recover.
If you become infected, your health care provider will determine which antibiotics will best treat the particular pneumococcal infection.