The bacteria live naturally in the mucous membrane in nose and throat and do not normally give rise to disease. Small children and elderly people have a high risk of the bacteria spreading to other parts of the body. The risk of getting seriously ill is high for people who have either had the spleen removed, who suffer from a chronicle heart, liver or kidney disease, or who are immunodeficient.
The pneumococcal disease can be treated with antibiotics.
Many countries have introduced vaccination against pneumococcal disease in children’s vaccination programme but also recommend vaccination to people over 65 as well as to other risk groups.