Alerts: Spokane Regional Health District's offices will be closed Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day. | Feb. 21: Some federal websites are experiencing disruptions while being reviewed for compliance with President Trump’s executive orders. As a result, some links and information on srhd.org may be unavailable.
Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, sometimes referred to as pneumococcus. Pneumococcus can cause many types of illnesses, including ear infections and meningitis. There are vaccines to prevent pneumococcal disease in children and adult.
Pneumococcus is the most common cause of bloodstream infections, pneumonia, meningitis, and middle ear infections in young children.
Other than pneumonia, pneumococcus can cause other types of infections, including:
Anyone can get pneumococcal disease, however some people are at greater risk for the disease than others. Age and preexisting medical conditions can increase your risk for pneumococcal disease.
Pneumonia (lung infection)-
Pneumococcal meningitis-
Pneumococcal bacteremia and sepsis (blood infections)-
Early diagnosis and treatment are imperative for invasive pneumococcal disease. Invasive means that germs are invading parts of the body that are normally free from germs.
900,000 Americans get pneumococcal pneumonia each year (CDC)
For more information regarding Influenza and Pneumonia, click here
For more information regarding Immunizations, click here
Epidemiologists monitor, track, and respond to infectious disease in the community to prevent spread of illness.