Pneumococcus
Pneumococcus
Pneumococcus (pronounced: noo-muh-KOK-us), also known as Streptococcus pneumoniae, is a type of bacteria that is often found in the respiratory tract of humans. It is one of the most common causes of bacterial pneumonia and other types of pneumococcal infections.
Etymology
The term "pneumococcus" comes from the Greek words "pneumon" (meaning lung) and "kokkos" (meaning berry), referring to the bacterium's characteristic appearance in lung tissue.
Description
Pneumococci are Gram-positive bacteria, meaning they have a thick cell wall that retains a violet stain in the Gram stain procedure. They are usually seen in pairs (diplococci) or short chains, and are typically alpha-hemolytic, which means they partially break down red blood cells.
Diseases
Pneumococci can cause many types of illnesses, including:
- Pneumonia: This is the most common disease caused by pneumococci. Symptoms include cough, fever, and difficulty breathing.
- Meningitis: This is an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can be life-threatening.
- Otitis media: This is an infection of the middle ear, which is common in children.
- Sinusitis: This is an infection of the sinuses, which can cause pain and a stuffy or runny nose.
- Bacteremia: This is a serious infection that occurs when bacteria get into the blood.
Prevention
Prevention of pneumococcal disease is possible through the use of pneumococcal vaccines. These vaccines stimulate the body's immune system to protect against the most common types of pneumococci.
Treatment
Treatment for pneumococcal infections typically involves antibiotics. However, some strains of pneumococci have become resistant to certain antibiotics, making treatment more difficult.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pneumococcus
- Wikipedia's article - Pneumococcus
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski