On October 5, at the National Internal Medicine Scientific Conference held in Hue City, MSc. Dr. Hoang Thi Lan Huong - Deputy Director of Hue Central Hospital said that pneumococcus is the cause of many diseases and is divided into 2 types: invasive and non-invasive.
Non-invasive pneumococcal diseases include acute otitis media and sinusitis. Invasive pneumococcal diseases include meningitis and bacteremia. Of these, bacteremic pneumonia accounts for 25% and non-bacteremic pneumonia accounts for 75%.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 1.6 million people die each year from pneumococcal disease, including 600,000 to 800,000 adults, mainly from pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. More than 90% of these deaths occur in developing countries.
But even in developed countries, invasive pneumococcal disease has a high mortality rate—an average of 10–20% in adults with pneumococcal pneumonia, and the rate is much higher in people with risk factors for the disease.
According to MSc.BSCKII Hoang Thi Lan Huong, preventing pneumococcal infection is especially important for patients with chronic diseases. There are currently two main types of vaccines: PCV13 recommended for young children, adults over 65 years old, and people with weakened immune systems. Along with the PPSV23 vaccine for adults and chronic patients over 2 years old, especially high-risk groups.
In addition, patients should be advised on a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol. Using personal hygiene measures, such as frequent hand washing and wearing a mask during flu season, can help prevent infection.
In addition, patients need to treat chronic diseases such as diabetes, COPD, and heart failure well to reduce the risk of pneumococcal infection. The combination of vaccination, good control of underlying diseases, and strengthening the immune system will help minimize the impact of pneumococcal infection on chronic patients, contributing to reducing the burden of disease and mortality.
Also at the National Internal Medicine Scientific Conference, there were nearly 220 reports from professors, doctors, and leading experts in the fields of Internal Medicine from major hospitals and universities across the country and major professional associations in Vietnam on Cardiology, Endocrinology - Diabetes, Stroke, Urology - Nephrology, and Intensive Care.
