The most common diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae include:
- Pneumonia: Infection of the lungs, leading to symptoms such as cough, fever, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. - Meningitis: Infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, causing severe headache, fever, neck stiffness, and altered mental status. - Otitis media: Middle ear infection, commonly seen in children, resulting in ear pain, fever, and irritability. - Bacteremia: Presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, which can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening systemic response to infection.
