MANILA, Philippines—Each year, millions of children and adults in developing countries die from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccines that readily available today.

One of the most common causes of these vaccine-preventable deaths is a bacterium known as pneumococcus that could attack different parts of the body.

When bacteria invade the lungs, they cause the most common form of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia; when bacteria invade the bloodstream, they cause bacteremia (presence of bacteria in the bloodstream that may eventually lead to blood poisoning and septic shock); and when they invade the covering of the brain, they cause meningitis. Pneumococci may also cause middle ear infection as well as sinusitis.

These diseases are not only damaging to the brain or could cause hearing loss—they often lead to death.

Not many are aware

“Although the medical community have long been aware of pneumococcal diseases caused by this bacterium, not many parents are aware of how contagious they are,” admitted Dr. Cecilia Montalban, president of Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

According to World Health Organization, pneumococcal disease is the No. 1 cause of vaccine-preventable death among children under 5, causing the death of over 1 million children per year worldwide.

“While children aged 2 years old and above are particularly vulnerable (because compared to most adults, they generally have weaker immune systems and do not have the right antibodies to combat the bacteria), anyone could get pneumococcal disease,” Montalban clarified.

Other groups

Another groups also at risk are the elderly, aged 60 and above and those individuals with weak immune systems due to cancer, leukemia, human immunodeficiency virus; or those who have chronic illness such as lung, heart and kidney disease and diabetes.

“Indeed pneumococcal diseases have harsh consequences on the society as a whole as anyone could be at risk. However, as a vaccine-preventable disease, the current available vaccine has the potential to eliminate these dangers,” Montalban said.

The doctor added that while pneumococcal disease is treated primarily with penicillin, the emergence of pneumococcal strains resistant to one or more of these commonly used antibiotics, placed further emphasis on the need for preventing pneumococcal disease through vaccination.

Best way

The best way to protect against pneumococcal disease is through vaccination. For example, Pneumococcal Polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumo 23) could be administered to children as young as 2 years old, to high risk individuals and for all elderly 60 years old above.

“Pneumococcal vaccines are considered clinically effective and safe. In adults, polysaccharide vaccine for example, has been shown to be effective in the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease, offering protection against 23 of the most prevalent pneumococcal types. Serotypes contained in the vaccine account for nearly 90 percent of pneumococcal disease,” the doctor informed.

Pneumococcal disease is spread through contact between persons who are ill or who carry the bacteria in their throat (it is common for people, especially children, to carry the bacteria in their throats without being ill from it) like if they share eating utensils, kiss or when children put shared toys in their mouths.

Since it is generally difficult to diagnose pneumococcal diseases—its symptoms may be similar to the symptoms of the common cold—don’t be alarmed if the doctor would immediately suspect pneumococcal diseases based on monitoring exhibited symptoms.

The doctor could confirm this through specific laboratory tests on spinal fluid, blood or sputum.