What can be done?
Difficulties in diagnosing and then treating pneumococcal infections make prevention an important weapon in fighting these diseases. Meningococcal meningitis is often associated with septicaemia producing the tell-tale non-blanching rash which is important to look out for. However, pneumococcal meningitis is less often associated with septicaemia therefore the rash is not so often helpful in its diagnosis. Treatment of a pneumococcal infection would normally be with antibiotics.
In September 2006, following an announcement by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was added to the routine childhood immunisation schedule. The vaccine offers protection against sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, bacteraemia and acute otitis media (middle ear infections), caused by the pneumococcal types included in the vaccine and is recommended to be administered to children at 2 months, 4 months and 13 months. For more information on the current schedule, click here to access the NHS immunisation website.
The CMO also recommends pneumococcal conjugate vaccination for certain at-risk groups which are outlined in the CMO Letter. Children and infants under the age of five, and classed as at-risk will receive, the conjugate vaccine. The number of doses will depend on their age.
To see full information on the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, please click here.
