Information about immunoprophylaxis and preventive vaccinations

European Immunization Week

From April 24 to 30, on the initiative of the World Health Organization (hereinafter - WHO) in the countries of the European region, including in the Republic of Belarus, the fourteenth European immunization week (hereinafter - ENI) is held. Today is one of the most noticeable annual campaigns in the field of healthcare.

The 2019 campaign is dedicated to the “vaccination heroes” - people who make a huge contribution to the work to ensure the protection of the life of both adults and children. “Heroes of vaccination” are also medical workers who are vaccinated, these are parents who decide to vaccinate their children, and all people who are interested in this issue and disseminate scientifically based information to increase the knowledge of the population.

The motto of ENO-2019: “We will defend together: vaccines act!”

The main goal of ENO-2019 is the information of the population about the importance of full-fledged immunization for the health and well-being of people throughout their lives.

The expansion of access to immunization is an important condition in achieving goals in the field of sustainable development. Planned immunization at the beginning of life gives each child a chance for a healthy life from birth.

According to WHO:

Every year in the world, immunization allows you to prevent from 2 to 3 million cases of death from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping and measles;

In 2017, 116.2 million children were vaccinated, which became an unprecedented indicator in history;

Since 2010, new vaccines have been introduced in 113 countries, while the number of vaccinated children increased by 20 million;

Since 2002, the European WHO region has been certified as free from poliomyelitis, and the number of cases has decreased by 90%.

Over the past decades of the past and this century, the conduct of preventive vaccinations made it possible to achieve significant success in the prevention of a number of infectious diseases around the world: natural smallpox was eliminated, in only three countries of the world, cases of paralytic poliomyelitis, a significant decrease in the number of cases of measles, rubella, diphtheria, tibia and acute viral viral. Hepatitis B in children and other infections warned by immunization.

However, despite the successes in achieving the purposes of eliminating diseases, over the past two years, several outbreaks of measles, diphtheria and a number of other diseases warned by vaccines have occurred in the world. This is facilitated by a large number of children not covered by vaccinations living in the poorest, dysfunctional and affected areas, as well as a large number of migrants.

The Republic of Belarus is actively moving along the path of eradication of infectious diseases and is involved in WHO programs to eliminate poliomyelitis, measles, rubella, congenital rubella.

For a long period in the Republic of Belarus, optimal coverage of preventive vaccinations (more than 97% among children) is supported, which ensures the prevention of mass distribution of pathogens of infectious diseases in case of importing them into the territory of our country. The situation was clearly demonstrated in cases of measles of our citizens in 2018. The presence of multiple drifts and such a small number of measles of measles indicates that in our country, thanks to vaccination, a fairly strong immune layer has been formed, which does not allow actively circulating the measles virus among the population of the Republic of Belarus.

At the same time, when situations arise in which undesirable phenomena are fairly or mistaken with immunization, they can undermine confidence in vaccines and specialists. From year to year, part of the persons (2-3%) remains not vaccinated for various reasons, including due to failures.

Within the framework of ENI, a wide range of measures is planned to work with the population, including persons who refuse to carry out preventive vaccinations, as well as to increase the level of awareness of the population of heights and existing opportunities for protection from infectious diseases through vaccination, about the importance of the timely immunization of family members, both for their own protection and to protect the surrounding them, as well as increasing the effectiveness of work, as well as increasing the effectiveness of work. with persons who refuse preventive vaccinations.

Immunization is the most successful, effective and safe measure of the prevention of infectious diseases.

Immunization is necessary for each person.

Immunization saves millions of lives!

The rights of citizens of the Republic of Belarus in the field of health protection for the prevention of infectious diseases.

The right to health protection is regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, Art. 45 “Citizens of the Republic of Belarus are guaranteed the right to health protection, including free treatment in state healthcare institutions. The state creates the conditions of medical care available to all citizens. ”

Each citizen of the Republic of Belarus is obliged to worry about maintaining their health. The state provides everyone with the opportunity to protect themselves from infectious infectious diseases.

Vaccines- In our country, they have the status of drugs (the Law “On Medicines”) intended for the prevention of infectious diseases and belong to the group of immunobiological drugs (hereinafter - ILS). Each batch of the vaccine entering the country undergoes a thorough quality test.

Vaccines are ILS intended for the prevention of infectious diseases in healthy people, therefore, the requirements for their quality are stringent, which meet international security standards.

The country has a system for supervision of registrationadverse reactionsAfter applying vaccines, which provides for accounting and investigation of serious adverse reactions. To prevent adverse reactions, a set of measures is carried out aimed at eliminating the likelihood of improper use of vaccines. This system includes the following components:

1. Vaccines used for the immunization of the population -On the territory of the Republic of Belarus, only registered and/or permitted ILSs are used in the prescribed manner.

2. The procedure for appointing ILS, conducting preventive vaccinations and monitoring the patient after their implementation.

Preventive vaccinations-The introduction of ILS to the patient to create specific immunity to infectious diseases.

Preventive vaccinations are prescribed by a specialist doctor: a general practitioner, a pediatrician, a pediatrician when applying for patients for medical care, taking into account indications and contraindications for their conduct, in strict accordance with the instructions attached to the ILS. In childhood, vaccinations against: hepatitis B are carried out, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, pneumococcal and hemophilic infections, measles, rubella, epidemic mumps. Adults without fail it is necessary to repeat the introduction of vaccines against diphtheria and tetanus. In addition, some categories of citizens are entitled to free vaccination against viral hepatitis B, influenza.

Information about preventive vaccinations is entered into medical documentation. You can clarify information about the vaccination status in the territorial healthcare organization at the place of residence.

When applying for medical assistance to the territorial healthcare organization, the patient has the right to clarify his vaccination status and clarify the need to carry out preventive vaccinations in accordance with age.

The vaccination of the population of the Republic of Belarus is carried out as part of the provision of medical care to citizens. The Vaccination service is included in the standard for the provision of medical outpatient assistance to the population and is free of charge in accordance with the National Calendar of Preventive Vaccination (hereinafter-the National Calendar).

3. Calendar of preventive vaccinations.In 1974, the World Health Organization (hereinafter - WHO) began to carry out a large international action, which was calledExpanded immunization program(RPI), in order to ensure timely and complete vaccination of children against the most important infectious diseases. In 2012, the 194th Member States of the World Health Assembly approved a global action plan in relation to vaccines (GPDV), the purpose of which is the implementation of the concept of a decade of vaccines by ensuring universal access to immunization.

GPDV is aimed at strengthening planned immunization to achieve the following goals:

• achievement of targeted indicators for vaccination coverage;
• building the pace of combating diseases prevented by vaccines, and the first line of this struggle is the elimination of poliomyelitis;
• introduction of new and improved vaccines;
• The introduction of developments for obtaining the next generation vaccines and technologies.

National calendarpreventive vaccinations (hereinafter - the national calendar) includes12 infections:Hemophilic infection, hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis, measles, rubella, polio, tetanus, tuberculosis, epidemic mumps - to all persons at the indicated age, as well as flu, pneumococcal infection - risk contingents. In the Republic of Belarus, preventive vaccinations are regulatedAccording to epidemic indications against 18 infections.

4. Financing.In the Republic of Belarus, the implementation of immunization as part of the national calendar is completelyFinanced by the state. In addition, preventive vaccinations are carried out for free of epidemic indications for “risk groups” (against rabies, against measles in the foci of infection, against yellow fever, against hepatitis B for health workers, against influenza, etc.). At the request of citizens, vaccination against infections that are not included in the national calendar can be carried out at the expense of citizens' own funds in healthcare organizations.

5. Consent and rejection of preventive vaccinations.

In accordance with Art. 44 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Health Care”, consent to immunization (as simple medical intervention) is given by the patient or in relation to minors - one of the parents, adoptive parents, guardians, trustees (hereinafter - legal representatives) verbally, and a medical officer is made in the patient’s medical documentation.

However, in accordance with Art. 45 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Health”, the patient or his legal representative has the right to refuse to carry out vaccination. In this case, the attending physician in an accessible form explains the possible consequences of the refusal, the refusal is made out by the patient in the patient’s medical documentation, signed by the attending physician and a patient who should be clarified by the possible consequences of the refusal.

If you still have doubts about the need for preventive vaccinations, do not rush to draw up a refusal. Do not forget that it is you who are responsible for your health and your child’s health.

According to WHO:

• In 2017, 116.2 million children were vaccinated, which became an unprecedented indicator in history;
• Since 2010, new vaccines have been introduced in 113 countries, while the number of vaccinated children increased by 20 million;
• Since 2002, the European WHO region has been certified as free from poliomyelitis, and the number of cases of measles decreased by 90%;
• For various reasons, 19.9 million children under the age of one year were not covered by KDS-3 vaccine.

The main facts about immunization.

1. Immunization saves people's lives.

Planned immunization against diseases such as polio, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles annually saves lives from 2 to 3 million people around the world. In addition, it prevents millions of people from severe suffering associated with exhausting diseases and lifelong disability.

Vaccines can not only save, but also transform people's lives, providing children with opportunities for healthy development, visiting schools and improving their life prospects.

With the help of vaccines, it is possible to limit the spread of resistance to antibiotics. The global increase in incidence caused by bacteria with resistance to drugs as a result of excessive use of antibiotics and their abuse is a serious health problem. Immunization is a very effective way to stop the infection of the population and, thereby, eliminate the need for antibiotics. Increasing the efficiency of vaccination and the development of new vaccines are an integral part of the fight against resistance to antibiotics and reducing the number of preventive diseases and deaths.

2. Flies of infectious diseases create a constant serious threat, continue to take away the lives of people, many people leave disabled.

Vaccination allows you to prevent suffering, disability and death from diseases preventable using vaccines. At the same time, paradoxically, but the fact that, thanks to effective vaccination programs, many infectious diseases have become rare or almost completely disappeared, can contribute to the spread of opinions among parents that immunization is no longer necessary, that it is more dangerous than the disease itself. These erroneous ideas led to a significant decrease in the levels of coverage and the return of diseases such as diphtheria, measles, whooping cough, poliomyelitis. Outbreaks of diseases affect each person.

Measles

The number of diseases such as measles has decreased significantly significantly, but even in countries with a high level of preventive vaccinations, outbreaks are amazing groups of unimportant faces. In 2016, the American WHO region became the world's first region in which measles were eliminated. This achievement is the result of 22 years of work and mass vaccination of the population of America against measles, rubella and epidemic mumps.

According to WHO in the countries of the European region (53 countries) in
2018 more than 80 thousand cases of measles were registered, of which more than 70 ended death. The main share of measles belongs to Ukraine, where in 2018 more than 53 thousand people were ill with measles, including 16 with death. A tense situation was noted in Serbia (4,175 cases, including 15 lethal), Israel (3,119 cases, including 2 lethal), France (2,913 cases, including 3 lethal), Italy (2,517 cases, including 8 lethal), Georgia (2,203 cases), Greece (2,193 cases, including 2 lethal), the Russian Federation (2,256. cases), Albania (1,466 cases), Romania (1,087 cases).

Based on the results of the conclusion of the European Regional Commission on the Verification of Corey Eliimation since 2012, the Republic of Belarus has been assigned to the group of countries where this infection is eliminated.

In 2018, 259 cases of measles were registered in the 7 regions of the Republic of Belarus, of which 74% in adults. In the vast majority, these are devastated cases (most from Ukraine) and cases of contacts with sick persons. More than 73 % of the measles of measles were not vaccinated (including due to the rejection of vaccination) or not completely vaccinated against measles. The spread of the disease was prevented due to maintaining a high level of coverage by preventive vaccinations against measles of the population, as well as in a timely and fully carried out sanitary and anti-epidemic measures.

Polio

The situation on poliomyelitis in the world in 2018 remained quite stable. Over the past five years, the number of registered cases of paralytic poliomyelitis has decreased in the world: from 359 cases in 2014 to 33 cases in 2018 there are reason to say that two of three strains of wild polyovirus have already been eliminated. India and the entire region of the countries of Southeast Asia WHO were declared free of polio, and the outbreaks that began in 2013-2014. In the Middle East and in the area of ​​the African horn, they were stopped.

In 2018, all cases of paralytic polio were registered in two endemic countries: Afghanistan (21 cases) and Pakistan (12 cases). Nigeria is also endemic in poliomyelitis, where cases of paralytic polio in 2017-2018. Not registered.

Since 2002, the Republic of Belarus has been included in the list of countries free from poliomyelitis.

In 2018, the recommended indicator of the registration of cases of non -PM (at least 1 per 100 thousand children under 15 years old) was reached in all regions of the republic and amounted to 1.6 to 3.3 per 100 thousand age contingent.

Acute respiratory infections, flu

Acute respiratory infections (hereinafter referred to as Ori) and influenza remain one of the most urgent medical and socio-economic problems. In the structure of infectious diseases registered in the Republic of Belarus (3.3-3.5 million cases), the fraction of Ori and influenza accounts for about 97%.

The past ecstity season of the flu 2017-2018. It was characterized by a temperate epidemic lifting of incidence.

To ensure epidemiological well-being in September-November 2017, a campaign for the vaccination of the population against influenza was carried out, as a result of which 40.5% of the population of the Republic of Belarus (more than 3.7 million people), including::

• At the expense of the republican and local budgets, 32.4% of the population were vaccinated;
• At the expense of enterprises, organizations and personal funds of citizens, 8.1% of the population.

Coverage of the preventive vaccinations of the population from increased risk of adverse consequences of the disease of the flu reached the regulated level (at least 75%) and amounted to 75.3% of the number of this contingent.

At least 75% of the number of medical workers (84.3% of the number of contingent), persons from institutions with round -the -clock stay of children and adults (82.9% grafted), and state security services (78.5% vaccinated) were completed.

An analysis of the incidence of influenza among the vaccinated and unvaccinated population in the epidemic period of respiratory viruses in 2018 showed high efficiency of measures aimed at preventing and reducing incidence among the population.

Caring for the health of citizens is not only the obligation of the state, but primarily the heads of enterprises and the citizens themselves, who should also be interested in preventing influenza by methods that confirm their effectiveness and safety.

3. Diseases warned by vaccination can be defeated and eliminated.

With a stable and high level of vaccination coverage, the incidence rates are reduced, and diseases can even be completely eliminated.SmallpoxFrom which 5 million people around the world died annually. The last case of the smallpox was registered on October 25 in 1977 in Somalia, and in 1980, at the XXXIII session of the WHO Assembly, it was officially announced the liquidation of natural smallpox around the world. And today, almost everyone has forgotten about this disease.

In the XIX century and the first half of the twentieth century epidemicspolioWe raged in Europe and the USA. For 1916 alone, 27 thousand people infected polio in the United States. After the widespread use of a polio vaccine in many industrialized countries, the incidence decreased sharply. In 2002, the SHO proclaimed the European region free of polio, and the task of complete elimination of poliomyelitis around the world is currently close to achievement.

Thanks to immunization, epidemics are almost eliminatedmeningitis aIn Africa. Meningitis A is an infection that can cause severe brain damage and often ends with a fatal outcome. Since the vaccine against meningitis A began to be used in December 2010 in Africa, mass vaccination campaigns have allowed control and almost eliminating the incidence of deadly meningitis and in 26 African countries of the so -called meningite belt. Currently, the vaccine is introduced into national planning immunization programs.

4. Immunization is an effective measure in terms of costs.

Immunization is undoubtedly one of the most effective and economically appropriate measures of medical intervention that currently exist. It is one of the few measures requiring small costs, but providing significant positive results for the health and well -being of the entire population. Every year, immunization saves millions of lives, preventing deaths and disability associated with infectious diseases, although the costs of it are much lower than the cost of treatment.

In recent years, the financial burden associated with incidence has significantly decreased in most member states.Each US dollar, spent on the vaccineAgainst the measles-parallers,saves more than 21 US dollarsAs direct costs for medical care. According to estimates carried out during the analysis of costs associated withflash of measlesIn Western Europe in 2002-2003,,Direct costsCompiled9.9-12.4 million euros, which is equal to the amount required for vaccination 1,358 100 children with two doses of the vaccine at the level of 95%coverage.

According to economists, on1 dollar, spent onvaccination against rubella,It accounts for $ 7.7which would have to be spentto fight the disease itself. The costs of a child with congenital rubella (SVK) syndrome during his life are on average more than 200 thousand US dollars. This amount includes the costs of maintaining children with severe pathologies (congenital deafness, cataracts, mental inferiority, physical ugliness), as well as to teach children and adolescents with visual impairments and hearing.

Since immunization contributes to the prevention of diseases, it provides a significant, albeit not amenable to assessment, saving funds in relation to labor productivity, disability and access to education, as well as reducing the cost of treatment of diseases that can be prevented.

5. Success and achievements of immunoprophylaxis in the 20th-XXI centuries.

Thanks to successfully ongoing immunization programs, in our country there is a stable situation for a number of infections controlled by vaccine -proceedings:

In the near future, despite the development of healthcare systems, the emergence of the latest means and methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention, infectious diseases will exist. Their spread will be facilitated by armed conflicts, economic crises, global migration processes, climate change, etc.

Therefore, the creation and improvement of vaccines against infectious diseases is one of the main areas of the development of medicine.

Now vaccines are being developed against the causative agent of peptic disease (Helicobacter pylori), fungal diseases (mushrooms of the genus Candida), herpes viruses and human papillomas, HIV infection.

In several countries, a new vaccine against Denge’s fever was licensed, and in 3 African countries the first vaccine to protect children from malaria began. The number of vaccines that are in the development of clinical tests has also increased.

Information for the population, which can be used in the preparation of information and educational materials (brochures, memos, booklets) by European immunization week

Measles

Curity is an extremely contagious disease that causes a virus that spreads through coughing and sneezing with close or direct contact with infected discharge from the nasopharynx of the patient. The sick can be distributed by the virus, starting from the fourth day before the appearance of the rash and within four days from the date of its appearance.

Signs and symptoms:

Early signs include:

High temperature, runny nose, cough, inflamed eyes, lacrimation, small white spots that develop at the primary stage on the inside of the cheeks.

After a few days, it usually appears to be raised on the face and upper part of the neck. The rash spreads, in the end, reaching the arms and legs, lasts five to six days, then dries.

The most serious complications are:

• blindness,
• encephalitis (infection that causes brain swelling),
• acute diarrhea and subsequent dehydration,
• ear infections,
• Serious respiratory infections, such as pneumonia.

In most severe cases, measles can lead to death.

Rubella

Rubber is a viral disease that is transmitted when contacting the sick by coughing and sneezing. The disease is especially contagious during the period of the presence of a rash, but can be transmitted within 7 days until the rash appears. Persons in the absence of symptoms can still spread rubella.

Signs and symptoms:

The rubella can begin with light fever within 1-2 days, pain and an increase in lymph nodes usually from the back of the neck and behind the ears. Next, a rash appears on the face, which spreads below. However, some people in rubella have no symptoms.

In children, rubella usually takes place in mild form, although in rare cases serious problems may occur. This includes meningitis and bleeding. Rubber is especially dangerous for the fetus if a woman gets sick during pregnancy. Congenital rubella syndrome can cause a miscarriage or congenital development defects, such as deafness, a lag in the mental development and development of organs such as the heart.

Epidemic mumps

Epidemic mumps (pig) is transmitted when the virus is inhaled, released into the air during coughing or sneezing sick. The virus can also be transmitted through saliva. Mumps can spread until clinical symptoms appear and within five days after.

Signs and symptoms:

The usual symptoms of mumps include: temperature, loss of appetite, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, followed by an increase in the parotid salivary gland or submandibular glands. For some, the disease proceeds asymptomatic.

In most children, mumps proceeds in a mild form, but the disease can cause serious problems, such as meningitis and deafness. In rare cases, mumps can lead to death.

Polio

The cause of polio is a virus that affects the nervous system. The virus enters the body through the mouth and propagates in the intestines. It is transmitted by fecal-oral route. The source of infection most often becomes food or drinking water. Contributing factors: non -compliance with personal hygiene rules, poor sanitary conditions or insufficient control of wastewater. The poliomyelitis virus also spreads with coughing and sneezing.

Signs and symptoms:

Symptoms at the initial stage include:

• temperature,
• fatigue,
• headache,
• vomiting,
• Rigidity of the neck and pain in the limbs.

Poliomyelitis mainly affects children, but can also lead to paralysis in adolescents and adults who do not have immunity.

Poliomyelitis can cause complete paralysis within a few hours, since the disease affects the spinal and/or brain. Such paralysis can be irreversible. In case of paralysis, the immobility of the respiratory muscles may occur, which leads to death. There is no specific treatment against poliomyelitis.

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease that occurs as a result of the entry into the body of Corynebacterium diphtheria and the release of diphtheria toxin,characterized by acute inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, mainly oropharynx (approximately 90% of cases), nose. It is possible to damage the skin in places of damage, eye or genital organs.

A characteristic feature of the disease is the possibility of the formation of the so -called carriage of the pathogen of diphtheria, when the symptoms are absent or minimal and practically does not cause problems to a person.

The causative agent of infection from a person to a person with airborne droplets is transmitted when sneezing, cough, conversation. It is possible to transmit the pathogen by contact and household through household items and the occurrence of skin forms of diphtheria, which is more often observed in countries with hot climate. The incubation period of diphtheria lasts from 2 to 10 days.

Signs and symptoms:

High temperature, weakness, sore throat when swallowing.

Diphtheria toxin causes the formation of painful dense films (accumulation of necrotic tissues) on the back of the throat and on the tonsils, making it difficult to swallow and breathing, leading to the development of the so-called diphtheria cereal, in addition, it affects the nervous, cardiovascular and excretory systems, thereby pose a danger to health and life.

The only way of treating diphtheria that allows for recovery and avoid irreversible consequences up to death is the urgent administration of anti -a -air serum. Vaccination against diphtheria and even the disease does not lead to the formation of persistent lifelong immunity, over time it is fading away. Therefore, vaccination against diphtheria is carried out throughout human life.

Tetanus

An infectious disease caused by the toxic bacteria Clostridium tetani is not transmitted from person to person.

An important feature of the pathogen is its ability to form spores that can remain viable for years. Bacteria spores are found in the environment - in the soil, on the surface of rusty instruments, in feces of animals, humans.

Disputes of the pathogen of tetanus can enter the human body through damage on the skin: abrasions, scratches, wounds or animal bites, with burns, frostbite, through the umbilical wound in newborns.

The incubation period of tetanus lasts from 3 to 21 days after infection (on average, 14 days).

Signs and symptoms:

The disease begins with general weakness, irritability, headaches, pulling pain around the wound, the rigidity of the occipital muscles.

The first and most common symptom is the tonic voltage (trism) of the chewing muscles with difficulty opening the mouth. Following Tristism, other signs of tetanus appear that form a classic triad: a “sardonic smile” due to a spasm of the facial muscles and dysphagia (dysfunction) as a result of a contraction of the muscles of the pharynx.

The defeat of the muscles is descending type. Subsequently, convulsions cover all the muscles of the body, from which the patient is bending with an arc.

With a tetanus disease, emergency medical care is required in hospital healthcare organizations.

From 1 to 8 people from 10 tetanus dies from the respiratory arrest, and in the case of recovery, speech and memory disorders remain for a long time;

After the disease, the immunity against tetanus is unbiased and short, repeated infection is possible.

There is only one method of specific tetanus prevention - vaccination with tetanus anxin.

Diseases caused by a hemophilic infection of type B (HIB)

The hemophilic type B is caused by a bacterium. Typically, bacteria are in a person’s nasopharynx and do not cause a disease. But, under certain conditions, if bacteria fall into the lungs or in the blood, a person can get sick. The disease spreads with coughing and sneezing from the sick.

Signs and symptoms:

Symptoms of the disease depend on which part of the body is affected. The temperature is characteristic of all forms of the disease:

• meningitis (inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord),
• Epiglottitis (edema of the umbort on the back of the pharynx),
• pneumonia (pneumonia),
• osteomyelitis (inflammation of bones and joints),
• Cellulite (inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue, usually on the face).

The disease can develop rapidly, and meningitis and epiglottitis can lead to death. Most children with this disease need hospitalization. Even under the condition of treatment, the risk of death or disability remains.

Pneumococcal infection

The bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae causes pneumococcal disease. The disease spreads with airborne droplets when coughing or sneezing from a sick person or person who is the bearer of the bacterium.

Signs and symptoms:

There are many types of pneumococcal infection, and symptoms depend on which system of the body is affected. Pneumonia is the most common and severe form of the disease. The following features are characteristic: temperature, chills, cough, rapid or difficulty breathing, chest pain.

Another serious form of the disease is the meningitis caused by pneumococcal infection, which is a damage to the shells of the brain and spinal cord. The symptoms of meningitis are: rigidity of the occipital muscles, temperature, headache and carrier in the eyes from bright light. The meningitis caused by pneumococcus leads to a long loss of working capacity or death. Pneumococcal infections are sometimes difficult to treat, especially because some bacteria are resistant to antibiotics.