Pneumococcal disease
Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection. It is especially serious for young children and older people. It can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infection and meningitis (inflammation of the membranes around the brain).
Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect you from pneumococcal disease.15
Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for:
People aged 70+ years
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50+ years
Children, adolescents and adults with high-risk medical conditions for pneumococcal disease
Fees may apply.
Book your pneumococcal vaccination
Eligibility for free NIP pneumococcal vaccination:
People aged 70 years and over
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over
Book your NIP pneumococcal vaccination
NSW
National Immunisation program The pneumonia vaccination is available on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule, in New South Wales, for the prevention of pneumococcal infection. It will be available for eligible people most at risk of complications from pneumonia.
It will be available for free^for:
People aged 70 years and older
Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and First Nations people aged 50 years and over
Immunocompromised people aged 18 years and older with specific medical conditions
Book your NIP vaccination now
^Service fees may apply if you are ineligible under the NIP
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an acute infection of the air sacs (alveoli) of your lungs. When a healthy person breathes, these sacs fill with air. When a person has pneumonia, the alveoli fill with fluid and pus. This restricts normal air flow, making breathing difficult and limiting oxygen intake. In Australia, over 77,500 people are hospitalised with pneumonia each year1.
Some are at higher risk than others. Those most susceptible to contracting pneumonia include2:
children under two years
adults over 65
people who smoke
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
people with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or cancer, or chronic diseases that affect the lungs, heart, kidney or liver
those with weak immune systems or who take medications to suppress their immune system
people with feeding problems who are at risk of drawing food or liquid into the airway
those who are being treated in hospital for other conditions, especially if these conditions involve difficulty breathing
Types of Pneumonia
There are two different types of pneumonia infections that can be diagnosed in the lungs:
Lobar pneumonia— affects one or more sections (lobes) of the lungs
Bronchial pneumonia— (also known as bronchopneumonia) which affects patches throughout both lungs
What causes pneumonia?
There are over 30 different causes of pneumonia3 and they tend to be grouped according to the cause. Pneumonia can be caused by4:
bacteria, including mycoplasma pneumoniae bacterium which can cause different symptoms to the more common types of bacterial pneumonia
viruses (including the influenza virus and the COVID-19 virus)
other infections including fungi
Pneumococcal Pneumonia, which is caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium is the most common and most serious form of pneumonia.5
Pneumonia is most commonly transmitted via tiny airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Pneumonia can also be a complication of colds or flu, and it can also spread through blood, such as during birth.
What are the symptoms of pneumonia?
Symptoms of pneumonia can vary from mild to severe, and can come on suddenly or increase over a few days. A mild illness is one that resolves within two to three weeks. However, in older adults or people with chronic diseases or other health conditions, it may take as long as six to eight weeks, or longer to recover. 6The most common symptoms7 8of pneumonia are:
difficulty breathing
rapid breathing
rapid pulse
fever, chills or heavy sweating
chest pain
abdominal pain
loss of appetite
cough
bluish colour around the lips and fingernails (due to lack of oxygen)
general weakness
Symptoms can also be specific to the type of pneumonia you have9. For example:
bacterial pneumonia usually involves a rust or green-coloured phlegm
viral pneumonia symptoms, including those related to COVID-19 pneumonia are similar to flu symptoms (e.g. headache, fever and trouble breathing)
mycoplasma pneumonia often involves white phlegm, nausea and vomiting
How is pneumonia diagnosed?
Diagnosing pneumonia is done via a number of tests10 including blood samples, nose and throat swabs, and urine, and/or phlegm samples. A doctor may also ask you to have a chest x-ray to see if the pneumonia is in one or both lungs.
Because symptoms are often similar to a cold or flu, it’s important to see your doctor or healthcare professional as soon as they arise, especially if you have other health conditions. As there are different types of pneumonia, which vary in severity, it’s important to receive a proper diagnosis so you receive the right treatment.
How is pneumonia treated?
Treatments for pneumonia will depend on whether you have viral or bacterial pneumonia.
If you have bacterial pneumonia, your treatment will usually involve antibiotics and pain relief medication to help manage any chest pain.
If you have viral pneumonia, medications to relieve the pain and reduce the fever are usually prescribed. Viral pneumonia cannot be treated with antibiotics.
Regardless of what type of pneumonia you have, you should:
get plenty of rest
drink plenty of fluids
use pain relief medication to ease chest pain and help you breathe better
avoid taking cough suppressing medication as expelling mucus often helps clear the lungs
avoid smoking and substances that may irritate the lungs, such as smoke.
Some people may need physiotherapy to help them clear their lungs. In severe cases, a person may require hospitalisation and oxygen therapy.
Treatment times vary depending on the severity of the infection and the age and health of the infected person.
What are the complications of pneumonia?
Pneumonia can become serious and life-threatening very quickly, so it’s important you see your doctor or healthcare professional as soon as you feel unwell. Complications11 may include:
bacteria from your lungs enters your bloodstream, potentially spreading the infection to other organs
fluid accumulation around the lungs (pleural effusion)
an abscess in the lung
breathing becomes so difficult that you need to be put on a ventilator (breathing machine)
Pneumonia and COVID-19
While COVID-19 is a distinctly different illness to pneumonia it can lead to COVID-19 Pneumonia. This type of pneumonia usually occurs in both lungs and can be quite severe.
While most people recover from pneumonia without any damage to their lungs, the pneumonia associated with COVID-19 can lead to lung damage, causing breathing difficulties that can take months to recover from.12
Unfortunately, it’s still too early to know whether people with lung damage after COVID-19 will go on to make a full recovery with time.
Those who are most at risk of developing COVID-related pneumonia are people 65 or over, with those aged 85 or over most at risk.
You are also at risk of developing COVID-19 Pneumonia if you have13:
moderate to severe asthma
lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer
high blood pressure
heart disease
diabetes
liver disease and renal failure
severe obesity (BMI of 40 or higher)
Can you prevent pneumonia?
Pneumococcal vaccination
A pneumococcal vaccine15can also help prevent some types of pneumonia and is generally recommended for those who are most vulnerable to contracting pneumonia.
Book your pneumococcal disease vaccination with MediADVICE.
Book now
Other ways to prevent pneumonia
One of the best way to help prevent pneumonia is to minimise the spread of germs. Practicing good hygiene by washing your hands and keeping common are as clean is the best approach.
You should also quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke.
As the flu is a common cause of viral pneumonia,14 speak to your doctor about whether you should receive an annual flu shot.
The flu vaccination can also be administered at your local MediADVICE pharmacy. Click here to book a flu vaccination.
Complications of contracting COVID-19 can include COVID pneumonia, a more severe form of pneumonia that affects both lungs and can result in lung damage.
To protect yourself from becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 and COVID pneumonia, you should consider getting a COVID-19 vaccination.
Your local MediADVICE pharmacist is available to help you manage your health, and can recommend products and medications that may be suitable for you.
Your pharmacist may also refer you to your doctor for further treatment. You may also consider getting a flu shot to help protect you from viruses that can lead to pneumonia.
Book a Flu vaccination or COVID-19 vaccination at your nearest MediADVICE today.
Disclaimer
General advice only – this information should not replace the information provided to you by your health care professional. If symptoms are severe or persist, please speak to your health care professional. Information current as of date of publishing.