Another wave of respiratory infections coming? What to do if you test positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae?

"I avoided mycoplasma and influenza, but was knocked down by Streptococcus pneumoniae." "I had a fever, cough, and sore throat. I bought a test kit online, and the result was positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae." Recently, many friends have shared their experiences of being infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae on social platforms.

Is Streptococcus pneumoniae a new pathogen? What should you do if you test positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae? Let's find out.

The “True Face” of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus, was first isolated from the sputum of patients in 1881. Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the normal parasites of the human body, often living in the nasopharynx of the human body . Streptococcus pneumoniae can be found in the nasopharynx of 5%-10% of healthy adults and 20%-40% of children.

Pneumococcal infection can lead to different types of diseases such as pneumonia, sinusitis, otitis media, meningitis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, pericarditis, sepsis, etc., the severity of which varies from person to person.

Pneumococcal disease is a major public health problem worldwide. In developing countries, young children and the elderly are most affected, with the World Health Organization estimating that approximately one million children die from pneumococcal disease each year.

What should I do if the test result is positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae?

The general population is susceptible to pneumococcal infection. Most patients have mild or no obvious symptoms after the initial infection, and the disease often develops suddenly . Treatment mainly includes symptomatic treatment and anti-infection treatment.

For patients with normal immunity, the natural course of pneumococcal infection is about 1-2 weeks. If no treatment is given, the disease can gradually enter the recovery period as the body's immunity gradually increases. Generally, the body temperature can gradually subside or suddenly drop 5-10 days after the onset of the disease. If effective antibacterial drugs are used after infection, the body temperature can return to normal in 1-3 days, and the symptoms will disappear.

For patients with weakened immunity and underlying diseases, infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae may gradually develop into severe illness. Patients may develop serious complications such as shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome, and even be life-threatening, so early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment are necessary.

How to effectively prevent pneumococcal infection?

Vaccination is an effective way to prevent pneumococcal infection. Polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine has a significant preventive effect and can be used to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis in children, the elderly, and patients with chronic diseases.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (copyrighted image from the gallery, reprinting may lead to copyright disputes)

In addition to vaccination, we should also pay attention to the following in our daily lives:

Keep the indoor environment clean and ventilate more;

Add or remove clothing appropriately according to weather changes;

Choose nutritious foods, eat a light diet, and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables;

Adhere to proper physical exercise;

Actively treat underlying diseases and improve your immunity;

Pay attention to social etiquette and take personal protection in places where crowds gather.