Pneumococcus
The pneumococcus bacterium (Streptococcus pneumoniae) kills up to one million children less than five years of age each year, mainly in the developing world. It is the leading cause of childhood pneumonia, the number one killer of children under five in the developing world, and it also causes meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the brain), ear infections, and bacteremia (blood stream infection). Pneumococcal disease can be treated with antibiotics; however, antibiotic-resistant strains are becoming more common worldwide. Currently, a vaccine against 7 of the over 90 serotypes of pneumococcus is licensed for use in infants and young children. There are several additional vaccines in development.
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Key resources
Pneumonia: The Forgotten Killer of Children (2006)
A joint report from the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization (WHO) that examines the epidemiological evidence on the burden and distribution of pneumonia and assesses current levels of treatment and prevention.
Gambia Pneumococcal Vaccine Trial
A web page from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases that offers details on an important vaccine field efficacy study in Africa.
Weekly Epidemiological Record: Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine for Childhood Immunization – WHO Position Paper (2007)
An article from the WHO that includes a summary of pneumococcal disease and its burden, as well as the official WHO position on the use of conjugate vaccines in a global context.
