Ask Your Doctor about "Pneumo"
When Preparing for Flu Season
NAPSI

With flu season on the way, you may be planning a doctor's visit to help you stay healthy and avoid influenza this winter. Take the opportunity to also talk to your doctor about another serious health issue-pneumococcal disease (pronounced NEW-moe-cock-ul).

"Pneumococcal disease, like influenza, is very common and often underestimated. Both are more prevalent during the winter months and may cause serious health problems, particularly in older adults," according to William Schaffner, M.D., Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

A look at the facts
Pneumonia is the most frequent form of pneumococcal disease in adults. Each year in the United States, an estimated 175,000 people are hospitalized for pneumococcal pneumonia.

When infection spreads to the bloodstream, it is called bacteremia, a very serious-and often deadly-complication. There are more than 50,000 cases of bacteremia each year.
Pneumococcal disease also causes 13 to 19 percent of all cases of bacterial meningitis (a spinal fluid infection) in the United States.

As many as 20,000 to 40,000 Americans die each year as a result of pneumococcal disease.

Causes, symptoms and treatment
Many healthy people – up to 70 percent – carry the bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease and don't even know it. The bacteria are spread by coughing, sneezing or close contact. Researchers don't know why some people become sick and others don't, but they do know that pneumococcal disease increases during winter months.

Pneumococcal disease is usually treated with antibiotics, but that's not always effective. "Treatment of pneumococcal disease is getting harder because the bacteria are becoming more resistant to penicillin and other antibiotics," said Schaffner.

So remember "pneumo" when you talk to your doctor this flu season. For more information about pneumococcal disease, visit www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/pneumonia.htm. [NAPSI]

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