In severe cases, pneumococcal pneumonia can put you in the hospital.
Pneumococcal pneumonia is not a cold or the flu. It’s a potentially serious lung disease that is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a common bacteria that can be spread from person to person through a cough or close contact. These bacteria can cause part of the lung to become inflamed and fill up with mucus, making it harder to breathe.
Pneumococcal pneumonia can catch you off guard.
Many people think of pneumonia as an illness that only the elderly or sick people get in the
hospital. That’s not always true. Pneumococcal pneumonia is a bacterial lung disease you
can catch anywhere, anytime.
Pneumococcal pneumonia symptoms may hit quickly, without warning, and can be severe.
For some people, certain symptoms like cough and fatigue can last for weeks or
longer—even after treatment with antibiotics.