A childhood pneumonia in China This is causing alarm around the world, perhaps because it all has 2020 implications. But what exactly is happening?
Not much is known at the moment. Last the 13th of Novembercity authorities Chinese Health Commission announced that there was a very large rebound in cases respiratory infections in the country. They talked about cases at a general level, across all age groups and involving multiple pathogens. China, the country where Covid-19 originated, was one of the countries with the longest persistence precautionary measures. However, they had already begun to relax them, so it was initially thought that this could be the reason for such an increase in the incidence of respiratory infections.
However, over time it was noticed that it was something much more specific. Most patients are children, with childhood pneumonia which spreads at high speed throughout schools, causing symptoms unconventional for this pathology. For this reason, this Wednesday, November 22, the World Health Organization (WHO) requested additional clinical information from China beyond what was provided on November 13, in order to study the situation more deeply and find tools to put an end to it.
Crowded waiting rooms and unusual symptoms
This Chinese childhood pneumonia appears to mainly affect northeastern part of the country, whose hospitals reportedly have waiting rooms filled with children and their parents. In Dalian Province Liaoningthey had to start child care in the hallways of health centers due to a lack of consultation to meet demand.
Children usually end up in hospital with very high temperature. Initially, there are no symptoms indicating pneumonia, since the disease occurs without coughing or difficulty breathing. However, a chest x-ray shows inflammation and nodules in the lungsthat are associated with pneumonia. X-rays also do not show other characteristic signs of pneumonia, such as focal pulmonary infiltrates. Despite this, the disease is clear, but its origin is not precisely known.
Childhood pneumonia usually occurs due to infection with a bacterium called Mycoplasma pneumonia. But, given that in this case the symptoms are very different, it will be necessary to analyze whether this is the same pathogen or whether it has undergone some kind of mutation.
No fatal cases of childhood pneumonia have been reported in China.
Childhood pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma This usually occurs without severe symptoms. In this regard, Chinese doctors report that there are more serious cases than usual, but very few critical ones, and at the moment no death.
It is important to urge calm and caution here. Of course, measures must be taken. Especially in schools, which appear to be the main causes of Chinese childhood pneumonia infections. also in hospitals, where they must recognize this new symptomatology, so different from other respiratory infections. The public must also follow the same measures as in the case of COVID-19. Constant hand washing, masking and distancing when necessary. Of course, avoid contact with infected people.
Thus, we will have to wait until the WHO analyzes the available information, and scientists, both Chinese and from the Organization, begin to search for the origin of this disease. It’s impossible not to find similarities with 2020, but it shouldn’t happen that way. First of all, calmness.
Source: Hiper Textual
