Pneumococcal pneumonia

Not to be confused with Pneumocystis pneumonia.

Pneumococcal pneumonia is a type of bacterial pneumonia that is specifically caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. S. pneumoniae is also called pneumococcus.

Symptoms include a teeth-chattering chill lasting for approximately thirty minutes with a fever, cough, and the production of rusty or blood-streaked sputum. Simple, uncomplicated cases of pneumococcal pneumonia will begin to respond to antibiotics in 48 to 72 hours. Full recovery from pneumonia, however, is greatly dependent on the age and overall health of the individual. Normally, healthy and younger patients can recover in only a few days, while the elderly or otherwise weakened individuals may not recover for several weeks. Complications may develop which give a poorer prognosis. Even when promptly and properly diagnosed, such weakened patients may die of their pneumonia.

It is the most common bacterial pneumonia in adults. Chest X-rays will typically show lobar consolidation or patchy infiltrates.

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