home » pediatrics » all about pneumococcal disease » preventing pneumococcal disease

All About Pneumococcal Disease

---

---

Preventing the Spread of Pneumococcal Disease

Currently there are 90 different known strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae. There is no vaccine that can protect against all of them. However, three vaccines are available to help prevent infection with the most common strains - PCV7, PCV10 and PPS23.

Infection risk in young children especially infants, can be reduced considerably with a vaccine called Prevenar. In several countries around the world this vaccine is administered free for all infants.

Pneumovax 23, another vaccine, helps protect other age groups and protects against some of the most virulent strains of disease in adults.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)

Every child under 2 years of age should routinely receive the PCV (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) as part of their childhood immunization program. In the context of a national immunization schedule, three doses should be sufficient. Outside this context, four doses are recommended.

Most infants get their first dose at the age of 2 to 3 months; the second and third doses are given at one to two months intervals. A booster should be given in the second year of life.

About 10% of children will have some redness and swelling at the injection site, as well as a mild fever - these symptoms usually go away quickly.

---

---

This Pneumococcal Disease information section was written by Christian Nordqvist for Medical News Today, and may not be re-produced in any way without the permission of Medical News Today. Additional materials provided by Wyeth.

---

Sources of information:

• www.wyethvaccines.co.uk

Further information

• Useful Pediatrics / Children's Health Website Links

Disclaimer: The Pneumococcal Disease section on Medical News Today is funded by an educational grant from Wyeth. This guide is provided for general information purposes only. The materials contained within this guide do not constitute medical or pharmaceutical advice, which should be sought from qualified medical and pharmaceutical advisers. Full disclaimer.

© MediLexicon International Ltd

Pediatrics

What is Pneumococcal Disease?

---

Most Popular Articles

• 1 Month
• 3 Months
• 6 Months

Conditions Information

-- select from list -- Abscess (Dental) Achalasia Achilles Tendinitis Acid Reflux Acne Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma) Acromegaly Actinomicosis Actinomycosis Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Acute Myeloid Leukemia Addiction Addison’s Disease (Primary Adrenal Insufficiency) ADHD Adrenal Fatigue Agoraphobia Air Embolism (Gas Embolism) Albinism Alcohol Poisoning Alcoholic Liver Disease Alcoholism Alopecia Areata Altitude Sickness (Acute Mountain Sickness) Alzheimer's Disease AMD / Macular Degeneration Amenorrhea Amnesia Amniocentesis Anagen Effluvium Anal Cancer Anal Fissure Anal Itching (Itchy Bottom) Anaphylaxis Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) Anemia Anemia (Vitamin Deficiency) Aneurysm Anger Angina Angioedema Anorexia & Bulimia Antiphospholipid Syndrome (Hughes Syndrome) Anxiety Aphasia Appendicitis Arrhythmia Arsenic Poisoning Arthritis Asperger Syndrome Asthma Astigmatism Ataxia Atrial Fibrillation Atrophic Vaginitis (Vaginal Atrophy) Autism Avian Influenza Back Pain Bacterial Vaginosis Baker's Cyst (Popliteal Cyst) Balanitis Bartholin's Cyst Bed Sores (Pressure Ulcers) Bell's Palsy Binge Eating Disorder Bipolar Disorder Bird Flu Bladder cancer Bladder Stones Blepharitis Body Dysmorphic Disorder Body Odor (B.O.) Boils, furuncles, carbuncles Bone Cancer Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Botulism Brain Abscess (Cerebral Abscess) Breast Cancer Breast Cancer (Male) Breast Lumps Bronchiectasis (Bronchiectasia) Bronchitis Bursitis Cancer Candidiasis Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Cartilage Damage Cataracts Catatonic Schizophrenia Cellulite Cellulitis Cerebral Palsy Cerebrovascular Disease Cervical Spondylosis Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Chickenpox Child Abuse Childhood Schizophrenia Chlamydia Cholecystitis (Gallbladder Inflammation) Cholera Cholestasis Of Pregnancy (Obstetric Cholestasis) Cholesterol Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Chronic Kidney Failure Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) Cirrhosis CJD Claustrophobia Clostridium Difficile (C. Difficile) Clubfoot (Talipes Equinovarus) Cluster Headache Cold Sores Colic Colon Cancer Colorectal Cancer Coma (Comatose) Common Cold Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Concussion Congenital Heart Disease (Congenital Heart Defect) Conjunctivitis (allergic) Conjunctivitis (infective) Constipation COPD & Emphysema Corns / Calluses Coronary Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease) Costello Syndrome Cough Crabs (Pubic Lice) Craniosynostosis Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) Cristoporidiosis Crohn's Disease Croup Cryptorchidism (Undescended Testicle) Cushing's Syndrome Cystic Fibrosis Cystitis Cysts Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Dandruff Deep Vein Thrombosis Dehydration Dementia Dengue Fever? Depression Detached Retina DHT Diabetes Diabetes Insipidus Diabetic Neuropathy Diabetic Retinopathy Diarrhea Diphtheria Discoid Eczema (Nummular Dermatitis) Disorganized Schizophrenia (Hebephrenia) Diverticulitis Double Vision (Diplopia) Down Syndrome Dry Eye Syndrome Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) Dupuytren’s Contracture Dysentery Dyslexia Dysphagia Dyspraxia Dystonia E.coli Ectopic Pregnancy Ectropion Eczema Edema Embolism Emphysema Encephalitis Endocarditis Endometriosis Enuresis - Bedwetting Epidermolysis Bullosa Epiglottitis Epilepsy Epiphora (Watering Eye) Erectile Dysfunction Esophageal Cancer Esophagitis Euthanasia (Assisted Suicide) Exophthalmos (Bulging Eyes) Eye Melanoma (Ocular Melanoma) Facelift (Rhytidectomy) Febrile Seizures (Convulsions) Female Genital Mutilation Fever Fibroids Fibromyalgia Flat Feet (Fallen Arches) Flatulence Food Allergy Fracture (Broken Bones) Frostbite Frozen Shoulder Gallstones Gambling Addiction Ganglion Cyst Gangrene Gastroenteritis / Food Poisoning Genital Warts GERD Giardiasis Gilbert Syndrome Gingivitis Glandular Fever Glaucoma Glomerulonephritis Glue Ear Gluten Intolerance / Celiac Disease Goiter (Goitre) Gonorrhea Gout Graves’ Disease Guillain-Barré Syndrome Gum Disease (Gingivitis) Hair Loss / Baldness Halitosis (Bad Breath) Hangover Hay Fever Head Lice Headaches Heart Attack Heart Block (AV Bundle/Bundle Branch Block) Heart Disease Heart Failure Heartburn Heat Rash (Prickly Heat) Heel Pain Hemochromatosis Hemophilia Hemroids / Hemorrhoids Hepatitis Hernia Herpes Hiccups Hiccups (Hiccoughs) High Blood Pressure Hirsutism (Excessive Hairiness) HIV / AIDS Hives Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Huntington's Disease Hydrocephalus (Water On The Brain) Hyperhidrosis (Excessive Sweating) Hypertension Hyperthyroidism Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Hypochondria Hypoglycemia Hypotension Hypothermia Hypothyroidism Hysterectomy Impacted Wisdom Teeth Impetigo Incontinence (bowel) Incontinence (urinary) Indigestion Infant Jaundice Infertility Influenza / Flu Ingrown Toenail Insomnia Irregular Periods (Oligomenorrhea) Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Irritable Hip (Acute Transient Synovitis) Japanese Encephalitis Jaundice (icterus) Jet Lag Kawasaki Disease Ketosis Kidney Cancer Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis) Kidney Stones Lactose Intolerance Laryngeal Cancer (Cancer Of The Larynx) Laryngitis Lazy Eye Leg Cramps Leg Pain Legionnaires' Disease Leukemia Lichen Planus Listeria Infection (Listeriosis) Liver Cancer Lung Cancer Lupus Lyme Disease Lymphedema Lymphoma Mal De Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) Malaria Malnutrition Marfan Syndrome Mastitis Measles Meniere's disease Meningitis Menopause Mental Health Mesothelioma Metatarsalgia (Stone Bruise) Migraine Moles Molluscum Contagiosum Morning Sickness (Nausea Gravidarum) Morton's Neuroma Motion Sickness (Travel Sickness) Motor Neuron Disease Mouth Cancer MRSA Multiple Myeloma Multiple Sclerosis Mumps Munchausen Syndrome Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy Muscular Dystrophy (MD) Myasthenia Gravis (Goldflam Disease) Nail Fungal Infection Narcissistic Personality Disorder Narcolepsy Nasal Polyps NDM-1 Necrotizing Fasciitis Neurofibromatosis Neuromyelitis Optica (Devic's Disease) Neuropathy Nicotine Dependence (Dangers Of Smoking) Noonan Syndrome Norovirus Infection Obesity Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Occupational Asthma Opioid-Induced Constipation (OIC) Oral Thrush (Babies) Oral Thrush (Oral Candidiasis) Osteoarthritis Osteochondritis Dissecans Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection) Osteopathy Osteoporosis Otitis Externa (Swimmer's Ear) Ovarian Cancer Ovarian Cyst Paget's Disease (Of Bone) Pain Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia) Pancreatic Cancer Pancreatitis (acute) Pancreatitis (chronic) Panic Attacks Paranoid Schizophrenia Parasites Parkinson's Disease Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Peptic Ulcers Pericarditis Period Pains Periodontitis Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Personality Disorders Peyronie’s disease Piles Pimples Pinworms (Threadworms) Pleurisy Pneumococcal Disease Pneumonia Polio Polyuria Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Postherpetic Neuralgia Postpartum Depression Prader-Willi Syndrome Premature Ejaculation Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Progeria Prostate Cancer Psoriasis Psoriasis Pulmonary Edema (Oedema) Pulmonary Embolism Q Fever Rabies Radiation Sickness (Radiation Poisoning) Ramsay Hunt Syndrome Raynaud's Disease Rectocele (Proctocele) Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Restless Legs Syndrome Rheumatic Fever Rheumatoid Arthritis Rhinitis, Non-Allergic Rickets Ringworm Rosacea Rubella Ruptured Spleen Salivary Gland Cancer Salmonella SARS Scabies Scarlet Fever (Scarlatina) Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) Schizoaffective Disorder Schizophrenia Sciatica Scleroderma Scoliosis Scurvy Seasonal Affective Disorder Sexual Addiction (Nymphomania) Shin Splints Shingles Short Stature (Dwarfism) Sinusitis Sjogren's Syndrome Skin Cancer / Melanoma Slapped Cheek Syndrome Social Anxiety Disorder Spina Bifida Spinal Muscular Atrophy Squint (Strabismus) Stammering Strep Throat / Sore Throat Stress Stress Incontinence Stroke Stye (Hordeolum) Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Suicidal Thoughts Swine Flu Syphilis Tachycardia (Fast Heart Beat) Tapeworms (Cestodes) Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) Tendinitis (Tendonitis) Testicular Cancer Testicular Torsion Tetanus Thyroid Cancer Thyroid Nodules Tinnitus Tiredness / Fatigue Tobacco Smoke Toxins Tonsillitis Tourette Syndrome Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) Transient Ischemic Attack transient ischemic attack Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Trigeminal Neuralgia Triple X Syndrome Tuberculosis Turner Syndrome Typhoid Ulcerative Colitis Umbilical Hernia Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Uveitis Vaculitis (Angiitis) Vaginal Cancer Vaginismus Vaginitis Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) Varicocele Varicose Eczema (Stasis Dermatitis) Varicose Veins Ventricular Fibrillation Vertigo Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR) Vitamin B12 Deficiency Vitiligo Vocal Cord Paresis (Paralysis) Von Willebrand Disease Vulvar Cancer (Vulval Cancer) Vulvodynia Warts Water On The Knee (Knee Effusion) Water Retention (Fluid Retention) Wegener's Granulomatosis Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome West Nile Virus (WNV) Wheat Allergy Whipple's Disease Williams Syndrome Wilms’ Tumor (Nephroblastoma) Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome Yellow Fever Yips Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

View list of all 'What Is...' articles »