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:
- Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD).
- Bacteremia (introduction of bacteria into the bloodstream).
- Meningitis (meningitis).
- Noninvasive (mucosal) pneumococcal disease* .
- Pneumonia (pneumonia)
- Acute otitis media (AOM; acute inflammation of the middle ear).
- Sinusitis (sinus infection)
* 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
- Stress (due toweakening of the immune system).
- 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 liver – connective 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
- Therapy with glucocorticoids such as cortisone.
Environmental pollution – intoxications (poisonings).
- Air pollution