Severe pneumococcal diseases such as meningitis largely affect children under two years of age. Infant vaccination reduces the risk of infection in early years.
Pathogen and transmission
Pneumococcal disease is caused by various serotypes of the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium (also known as pneumococcus). Many people have pneumococci in their nose and throat without falling ill.
The bacteria are transmitted from person to person via infected droplets that are emitted when sneezing, coughing or talking. Pneumococci can be transmitted by healthy ‘carriers’ or by persons who have already had and overcome a pneumococcal infection.
Pathology
Pneumococcal disease can develop in a person long after initial infection and establishment of the bacteria in the nose and throat area – if, for example, the individual’s immune system is weakened by another illness. At particular risk here are persons with immune deficiencies, with chronic heart, lung or kidney conditions, with cirrhosis of the liver, with cochlear (inner ear) implants or similar.
Pneumococci can cause any of various diseases. These include otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear), pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs), septicaemia (blood poisoning) and meningitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane around the brain). Among children aged under two, pneumococci are the commonest cause of acute bacterial meningitis, which can be fatal or can cause permanent damage to health. The treatment of pneumococcal disease is made more difficult by the bacteria’s antibiotic resistance.
Distribution and frequency of occurrence
Pneumococcal disease occurs sporadically all over the world, though outbreaks are rare. The disease affects several million people every year, of whom over a million die – many of them despite prompt antibiotic treatment. Switzerland sees around 1,000 cases of severe pneumococcal disease a year. Most of these are cases of pneumonia, with rarer cases of septicaemia or meningitis. Cases are more frequent in winter than in summer. Most of them involve children under two or adults over 65. All in all, some 100 people die of pneumococcal disease in Switzerland per year, some 80 per cent of whom are over 65.
Prevention
A vaccine is available against severe pneumococcal disease. The vaccine is recommended for persons in the risk categories outlined above and for all healthy children under five years of age.
Facts and figures on pneumococcal disease
Detailed data on pneumococcal diseaseate
(Page available only in German, French and Italian)
Trends in weekly case numbers, based on the mandatory reporting system developed for physicians’ reports.
Last modification 05.12.2024
Contact
Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Division Communicable diseases
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
3003
Bern
Switzerland
Tel.
+41 58 463 87 06