Pneumococcal Pneumonia: Facts About Symptoms, Treatment, and Complications

Format: Fact Sheet
Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

About 500,000 cases of pneumonia and 40,000 deaths occur annually due to the bacterium pneumococcus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacteria can infect the upper respiratory tracts of adults and children, and can spread to the blood, lungs, middle ear, or nervous system. Pneumonia affects twice as many African Americans as whites. At any given time, the noses and throats of up to 70 percent of healthy people contain pneumococcus, and researchers don’t know what causes it to suddenly invade the lungs and the bloodstream to cause disease.

NIAID has published an updated fact sheet on pneumococcal pneumonia that describes the transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and possible complications associated with the disease.

Next Steps
To view or download the fact sheet, visit www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/pneumonia.htm.