The CDC reports that from March 31 to October 5, 2024, rates of pneumonia in kids ages 2-4 increased from 1 to 7.2 percent, and from 3.6 to 7.4 percent among kids 5-17. Among St. Louis adults surveyed, 29 percent reported hearing about the increase during the last 7 days.
Is it pneumonia?
Symptoms of pneumonia usually develop gradually and include fever, sore throat, and a persistent or painful cough. In younger children, wheezing, vomiting, or diarrhea may also occur.
What causes it and how does it spread?
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a bacterium that causes respiratory infections often affecting the throat, windpipe, or lungs. It usually appears as a chest cold but can develop into pneumonia. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, it spreads through respiratory droplets. Crowded settings like schools or nursing homes are higher-risk environments for spreading pneumonia.
Do I need the pneumococcal vaccine?
The CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccine for all children under 5, people ages 5–49 who have specific risk conditions, and adults ages 50 and older. The CDC recently lowered the recommended age for adults from 65 to 50 to ensure earlier protection against invasive disease.
Missouri cases higher in 2024 than 2023
According to CDC, as of December 7, Missouri had 477 invasive pneumococcal disease cases across all ages in 2024, slightly higher than the 463 cases reported at the same time in 2023.
Younger and white survey respondent less likely to hear about rising rates
Among survey respondents in St. Louis and Omaha, NE, adults ages 50 and older were more likely to have heard about rising pneumonia rates than those under 50 (37% vs. 22%), as were Black (33%) and Hispanic (31%) respondents compared to non-Hispanic Whites (22%).
Stay informed, St. Louis!
Help St. Louis residents protect themselves and their families from pneumonia by sharing the resources below. Residents can use the vaccine locator to find vaccination places in St. Louis.
Survey information
This week’s report is based on a survey of 250 adult residents in St. Louis, MO (n = 166) and Omaha, NE (n = 84), conducted from December 14–16, 2024. Explore these data and more at iHeardSTL.
Want to help spread the word? Download the graphics below to share about this topic.
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#DidYouKnow that rates of pneumonia in kids ages 2-4 have been increasing?
If a cough lingers and breathing’s tight, it’s time to air on the side of caution. Parents should take their child to a healthcare provider if they develop persistent or worsening symptoms like those described.
#iHeardSTL #Pneumonia
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When a cough won’t quit, it’s time to quit guessing. Talk to your doctor—pneumonia could be the culprit! Symptoms of pneumonia usually develop gradually and include fever, sore throat, and a persistent cough.
#iHeardSTL #Pneumonia
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