Pneumococci attack with hitherto unknown intensity. Here's how to defend your baby from them

Zdjęcie: Fot. Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas/Pexels


If you would like to truly effectively take care of the wellness and life of your loved ones, especially the youngest ones, be certain to read the numbers below. They will aid you not only realize the large threat of pneumococcal infections, but besides truly effectively prevent them. 1.5 million deaths worldwide. Here are the numbers that make us realize how large a problem pneumococcal infections are. It is worth noting that most of these deaths (about 1 million) are due to pneumonia. 1 (over) 1000 as many cases of the alleged invasive pneumococcal illness is reported in Poland each year. Importantly, the number of non-invasive pneumococcal infections is not precisely known. It is estimated that at least respective 1000 people endure from pneumococcal pneumonia, while tens of thousands of people endure from otitis media. 1 This is crucial for prevention due to the fact that pneumococcal vaccines cover only any serotypes and changing the dominant serotypes may affect the effectiveness of vaccination. That is why it is so crucial to monitor changes in the pneumococcal serotype population. 2.3 6 times - between 2019 and 2021, the percent of infections caused by pneumococci belonging to the very dangerous multidrug-resistant serotype 19A increased in children under the age of five. 4 (more than) 90 are the number of pneumococcal serotypes distinguished by medicine5. Pneumococci disagree in their pathogenicity, and any of them can origin e.g. specified diseases as pneumonia, otitis media, sinusitis. This list besides includes diseases that are highly dangerous to life and wellness (especially in the case of the youngest and oldest patients), specified as sepsis, pneumonia with the alleged bacteremia and meningitis. 1 3 this number denotes the pneumococcal serotype, which - causing invasive pneumococcal illness - is liable for the largest number of deaths in our country in the general population.4 19A another of the most dangerous (and, unfortunately, increasingly common) serotypes, characterized by advanced antibiotic resistance, to difficult, long-term, and high-risk treatments.4 60 percent of children who attend daycare or kindergarten may be asymptomatic carriers of the dangerous bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, commonly known as pneumococcus.1 Most of these bacteria do not origin any symptoms, but they can be a origin of infection for another people, especially for those who are more susceptible to diseases, e.g. another children, as well as aged people with reduced immunity. 1 (greater than) 90 percent is how effective pneumococcal vaccines are. Importantly, Poland is not lagging behind in this respect: remember that your kid can benefit from vaccination, which is the most effective and safe method of preventing pneumococcal infections. Vaccines are available with different compositions, taking into account different serotypes. 7. Which 1 will be best for your child? Ask your doctor about it, who will urge the perfect offer, taking into account both extended protection and the current epidemiological situation in your place of residence. It is crucial that you do not hold this consultation, due to the fact that the key to success here is to execute the vaccination without unnecessary delays, at the right time. 1. Vaccinations Info; Summary - Pneumococcal vaccine https://czepenia.pzh.gov.pl/czepionki/pneumokoki/ (read date 3.2023) 2. National mention Center for Diagnostics of Bacterial Infections of the Central tense strategy (KOROUN) https://koroun.nil. gov.pl/ (read date 3.2023) 3. Fernández-Delgado, et al. microorganisms. 2021;9(11):2245. 4. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in infants and children under 5 years of age: WHO position paper – February 2019. Weekly epidemiological record, 2019; 8: 85-104 5. Skoczyńska A, Gołębiewska A, Wróbel-Pawelczyk I, Kiedrowska M, Ronkiewicz P, Błaszczyk K, Kuch A, Hryniewicz W. Invasive pneumococcal illness in Poland in 2021 (KOROUN data), 2022 6. Vaccinations info; How effective are vaccinations? https://bezpieczenia.pzh.gov.pl/faq/jaka-jest-skutecznosc-szczeien/ (read date 03.2023) 7. Vaccinations info; Pneumococcal vaccine; https://bezpieczenia.pzh.gov.pl/czepionki/pneumokoki/ (read date 03.2023) The material was created as part of the Let's talk about pneumococcal campaign, financed by Pfizer