Pneumococcus: Causes

Pathogenesis (development of disease)

After infection with pneumococci, they activate the defense system, but they cannot be eaten because of their envelope. As a result, many bacteria and/or impaired immune defenses (immunodeficiency) cause infection of the affected region.

Pneumococcal disease is divided into the following clinical forms:

* Noninvasive forms of pneumococcal disease can develop into invasive forms (e.g., pneumonia when accompanied by bacteremia).

Etiology (causes)

Biographic causes

  • Congenital immunodeficiencies with residual T and/or B cell function.
  • Socioeconomic factors – poor living conditions such as in prisons or homeless facilities.
  • Previous hospitalization

Behavioral causes

  • Consumption of stimulants
    • Tobacco (smoking)
  • Psycho-social situation
  • Fatigue

Causes due to disease

  • Allergies
  • Alcoholism
  • Anemia (anemia)
  • Other respiratory – affecting the respiratory tract – infections, mainly caused by viruses.
  • Asplenia – genetic absence of the spleen.
  • Bronchial asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Diabetes mellitus (diabetes)
  • HIV infection
  • Hypogammaglobulinemia – lack of antibodies.
  • Coronary artery disease (CAD)
  • Cirrhosis of the liverconnective tissue remodeling of the liver leading to functional impairment.
  • Leukemia (blood cancer)
  • CSF fistula – abnormal duct originating from the cerebrospinal fluid (nervous fluid) system.
  • Lymphoma – malignant tumor originating from the lymphatic system.
  • Malnutrition
  • Renal insufficiency (kidney weakness)
  • Plasmocytoma (multiple myeloma) – systemic disease caused by abnormal proliferation of plasma cells.
  • Sickle cell anemia (med.: Drepanocytosis; also sickle cell anemia, Engl.: sickle cell anemia) – genetic disease of erythrocytes (red blood cells); it belongs to the group of hemoglobinopathies (disorders of hemoglobin; formation of an irregular hemoglobin, the so-called sickle cell hemoglobin, HbS).
  • Condition after splenectomy (splenectomy).

Medication

Environmental pollution – intoxications (poisonings).

  • Air pollution