HK expert warns of pneumococcal infection risk this winter
University of Hong Kong clinical professor Patrick Ip warns of heightened invasive pneumococcal infection risk in winter and early spring, citing a fatal case of a 9-year-old boy. He urges parents to seek immediate medical attention for critical symptoms and highlights the government's subsidised va
Winter and early spring present a heightened risk of invasive pneumococcal infection, particularly among young children and the elderly, according to Patrick Ip Pak-keung, a clinical professor of paediatrics at the University of Hong Kong.
His warning follows the fatal case of a 9-year-old boy, who developed shortness of breath four days after falling ill and died a day after being hospitalised. Citing a 3 per cent mortality rate, Ip said serotype 3 was more likely to cause severe illness, including pleural effusion, bloodstream infection, shock and organ failure. In some cases, he added, it can also cause meningitis.
Ip said transmission is more likely in winter and early spring, when children and the elderly are most vulnerable. He urged parents to seek immediate emergency medical attention if a child develops critical warning signs, such as laboured breathing, persistent vomiting, severe lethargy, or seizures.
He highlighted Hong Kong's government-subsidised pneumococcal vaccination programme, which covers locally born infants at two, four, and 12 months, as well as residents aged 65 and older, emphasising that widespread immunisation plays a crucial role in lowering both infection and fatality rates.