campaign against streptococcus bacteria for children
The Ministry of Health announced the launch of a vaccination campaign for Streptococcus pneumoniae or the so-called pneumococcal bacteria, starting from next Sunday, corresponding to 1/2/2015, and continuing until three months from the mentioned date in all regions and governorates of the Kingdom. The campaign targets children between the ages of 2-5 years, which is a single supplemental dose of the PCV13 vaccination, and must be taken regardless of any other vaccinations previously taken, the vaccination campaign aims to protect children from infection from 13 types of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, knowing that pneumococcus has more than 90 types but the types The thirteen that will be vaccinated against is one of the most prevalent types and affects mostly infants or children under five years of age, and infection with it may lead to meningococcal fever, inflammation of the brain membranes, pneumonia or bacteremia, all of which are also possible to cause damage. It is severe in the brain and major body organs and this may cause permanent disability, hearing loss, or even death, God forbid.
Dr. Aisha Al-Shammari, who is the supervisor of the National Program for Immunization, expressed that these diseases spread among children through close contact with adults or other children who carry this bacteria, and may also be transmitted through contact with objects contaminated with bacteria such as cups, toothbrushes, toys or books, especially if The child put it in his mouth.
Dr. Aisha also confirmed that the PCV13 vaccination is like other vaccinations that the child is vaccinated with and is part of the national immunization program, and therefore the vaccination is considered safe and can be taken with other vaccinations, and the doctor indicated that this vaccination was recently included among the basic vaccinations for children at the age of two months, four months and six months and twelve months, and the doctor explained that the PCV13 vaccination is better than the previous PCV7 and PCV10 vaccinations because it can protect the child from infection with a greater number of types of bacteria that are not available in the previous vaccinations, and the doctor also indicated that the types of bacteria that are not covered by these vaccinations have become in It is increasing in the Kingdom and its resistance to antibiotics has developed and thus leads to a failure in treatment and cure.
Therefore, the Ministry of Health calls upon citizens and residents to accompany their children between the ages of 2-5 years to go to the nearest health care center affiliated with the Ministry to take the free supplementary dose provided by the Ministry in all primary health care centers.
What are pneumococci?
Pneumococci is a type of streptococcus bacteria, mostly concentrated in the upper respiratory tract and transmitted from one person to another by contact with a person carrying the bacteria, and transmitted mainly through lets that spread in the air when a person sneezes or coughs, or if these lets are inhaled Thus, the healthy person becomes infected, and this infection often spreads in the winter and spring, and the symptoms of the disease begin to appear after exposure to the infection approximately one or three days, and it is possible for a person to become infected with it, mild or severe, and it affects various places in the body, such as the bloodstream, heart, lung, and eyelid conjunctiva. The covering membranes of the brain and spinal cord i.e. the meninges, the middle ear and the sinuses, and the tissue covering the abdominal muscles.
The most common pneumococcal infection is meningitis, which is caused by infection with pneumococcal bacteria and may sometimes be fatal because it causes a blockage in the blood vessels of the brain, and it can also cause mental confusion, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, and loss of hearing.
Ear infections are also common due to pneumococcal bacteria, which is called otitis media, and may lead to fever, pain in the ear, hearing impairment or loss, diarrhea and vomiting.
One of the most common cases is sinusitis, which enters the bones surrounding the nose, and this condition leads to congestion, coughing, fever, headache, low energy, decreased appetite, and weak breathing.
One of the most dangerous cases of streptococcus pneumoniae infection is sepsis, as it is a serious disease that threatens the patient''s life as it leads to the formation of small blood clots and thus blockage of blood flow to some organs, which leads to their failure, and one of its symptoms is chills and low blood pressure to a degree that poses a threat to life. person, dizziness, confusion, decrease in body temperature, rapid heartbeat and skin rash.
