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Lung Health: Breathe Easier
Pneumococcal Pneumonia
Know the Facts
- Symptoms can be sudden.
In adults, pneumococcal pneumonia is often characterized by sudden onset of illness with symptoms including shaking chills, fever, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, pain in the chest that is worsened by breathing deeply and a productive cough. - Death can occur.
Pneumococcal pneumonia is one of the most common causes of death in America from a disease that can be prevented by a vaccine.
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Know Your Risk Factors
The pneumococcus bacterium is in many people's noses and throats. Why it suddenly invades the body and causes disease is unknown.
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Manage Your Risk Factors
Pneumococcal vaccine is very good at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death. However it is not guaranteed to prevent all symptoms in all people.You should get the pneumococcal vaccine if:
- You are 65 years old or older.
- You have a serious long-term health problem such as heart disease, sickle cell disease, alcoholism, lung disease (not including asthma), diabetes or liver cirrhosis.
- Your resistance to infection is lowered due to Hodgkin's disease; multiple myeloma; cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs; treatment with long-term steroids; bone marrow or organ transplant; kidney failure; HIV/AIDS; lymphoma, leukemia, or other cancers; nephrotic syndrome; damaged spleen or no spleen.
- You are an Alaskan Native or from certain Native American populations.
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Work with Your Doctor
- Speak with your doctor about whether you need Pneumococcal vaccine. Click here for more information on Pneumococcal disease.
- Speak with your doctor about whether you should have an annual flu shot. Click here for more information on the flu shot.
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