Cases of pneumonia caused by mycoplasma are increasing among children in Ohio, Massachusetts, China, and Denmark, although officials say it is not related to a “new or unusual virus.”
Key Facts
The disease is caused by bacterial pneumonia from mycoplasma, which usually results in mild respiratory infections, although it can progress to severe pneumonia requiring hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mycoplasma pneumonia is sometimes referred to as “walking pneumonia” due to the white patches it causes on the lungs during X-rays.
The Warren County Health District in Ohio issued a statement on Thursday indicating an outbreak of pneumonia that began in August and has affected at least 145 children aged three to fourteen.
“Mycoplasma pneumonia” was among the responsible strains, along with “pneumonia caused by chlamydia pneumonia” and adenovirus, all of which cause pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses, the health district noted in a separate statement released on Wednesday.
The health district stated that the increase in pneumonia cases is not linked to a “new or unusual respiratory illness,” but rather a result of a natural rise in pediatric cases, asserting that the outbreak is not connected to any other statewide or national or global outbreaks.
Massachusetts is also reporting an outbreak of “walking pneumonia” among children, referring to a mild pneumonia infection typically caused by “mycoplasma pneumonia,” along with an increase in cases of other respiratory illnesses such as respiratory syncytial virus.
Background
Mycoplasma pneumonia has also spread in China and Denmark. Researchers from the Statens Serum Institut in Denmark confirmed that cases of mycoplasma pneumonia have reached epidemic levels in the country. The increase began during the summer but surged rapidly over the past five weeks. More than 540 cases were reported last week – three times the number of cases reported in mid-October. Chinese officials reported during a press conference in November that there has been an increase in respiratory illness cases since mid-October, according to the World Health Organization. However, they attributed this rise to the lifting of COVID restrictions and stated it is related to known illnesses such as COVID, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, and mycoplasma pneumonia. The World Health Organization supported China’s statements, noting that the increase in respiratory illness cases early in the usual flu season is not surprising due to the lifting of COVID restrictions in the country. Republican members of Congress questioned CDC Director Mandy Cohen on Thursday regarding China’s credibility in reporting the rise in cases. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) likened the rise and the alleged lack of information from China to a “worrisome parallel to 2020,” referencing the early days of the COVID pandemic. Cohen stated that the uptick in cases is not related to a “new or unusual virus,” but rather due to respiratory diseases such as mycoplasma pneumonia, which aligns with China and WHO’s interpretations.
Note
Infection with mycoplasma is common in the fall and late summer, and while anyone can contract the infection, it primarily affects children and young adults, according to the New York State Department of Health. Common symptoms include sore throat, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, wheezing, headache, ear pain, and chest pain, according to a study published in StatPearls. Symptoms typically last for several days but can persist for over a month, usually starting two to three weeks after exposure. Although most infections are mild, they can lead to serious complications such as lung abscesses, respiratory failure, fluid accumulation in the lungs, and pus buildup in the lungs. There are no vaccines to prevent mycoplasma infections, but they can be treated with antibiotics because it is a bacterial infection, unlike COVID and influenza.
Reading
Detailed
CDC director says respiratory illnesses in China are not caused by a new virus (Forbes)
Increase in respiratory illnesses among children in Northern China (World Health Organization)
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