Pneumococcal Diseases

What are invasive pneumococcal diseases?

lnvasive pneumococcal diseases are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae  a microscopic bacterium that can be as serious as it is hard to pronounce.
Many of the diseases it causes may be potentially life-threatening to children.

Exactly what diseases are we talking about?

The one you are probably most familiar with is bacterial meningitis. Meningitis is an infection that causes an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. In the United States, several hundred children die from bacterial meningitis every year, and even more end up with permanent disabilities, like seizures, deafness, and mental retardation.

What can other invasive diseases can S.pneumoniae cause?

Bacteremia (bacteria in the blood), also referred to as blood infection, affects thousands of children in the United States each year. Bacteremia can resolve on its own but can also cause serious diseases. This happens when bacteria continue to multiply and affect other sites in the body (e.g., soft tissue, bone, and joint infections).

Can't these invasive diseases just be treated with antibiotics?

They can be, but you have probably heard stories about antibiotic resistance and how widespread use of antibiotics has caused them to be ineffective at times. This is a growing concern in the case of life-threatening pneumococcal diseases. And that is why it is so important to help prevent your child from needing antibiotics in the first place.

Is my child at risk?

Yes, studies have shown that infants and toddlers are at risk for invasive pneumococcal diseases. This is because these diseases are easily passed among children through sneezing hand-to-mouth contact. Antibiotic use and group-child-care-attendance may also increase your child's risk for invasive pneumococcal disease.

Is here anything I can do to help protect my child?

The good news is, now there is a revolutionary vaccine called Prevnar that helps to protect infants and toddlers from serious invasive pneumococcal diseases, such as meningitis and bacteremia.

When should my child get vaccinated with Prevnar?

Infants follow a typical schedule, getting the vaccine at 2, 4, and 6 months of age followed by a fourth shot at 12 to 15 months.

For previously unvaccinated older infants and children, who are beyond the age of the routine infant schedule, the dosing schedule will vary. Ask your health care professional about the schedule most appropriate for your child.

Talk to your child's health care professional today.

What can be expected following immunization with Prevnar?

Following vaccination with Prevnar your child may experience side effects similar to those seen with other childhood vaccines. In clinical trials the most frequently reported adverse events included injection site reactions, fever, irritability, drowsiness, restless sleep, and decreased appetite.

Risks are associated with all vaccines, including Prevnar. Hypersensitivity to any vaccine component is a contraindication to its use. Prevnar may not provide 100% protection against vaccine serotypes or protect against nonvaccine serotypes.

Ask your health care professional about the risks and benefits of Prevnar and if it is right for your child.