Cases such as these aren’t rare. And the fact remains that the patients are ill informed about these. Doctors say Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of community acquired bacterial pneumonias.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and prevention (CDC), recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunisation practices (ACIP), at least 500,000 cases of pneumococcal pneumonia are estimated to occur annually in the United States.

Streptococcus pneumoniae accounts for 25-35per cent of all the community acquired bacterial pneumonias in persons who require hospitalisation. Talking about the available data on the disease, there is not any in the country, but it’s the figures from the other countries that are referred to.

“Its important that the people are aware of the disease and simply do not ignore the persistent symptoms of cough and general weakness. There are vaccines to tackle the infection but these have to be administered only under the observation of the doctor,” noted a pulmonary medicine doctor.

Treatment