What is known about childhood pneumonia outbreaks in Asian countries

“Chinese hospitals are overcrowded” and “unknown pneumonia outbreak”.Over the past few hours, the emotional memories carried in these phrases have taken us back to The worst of the coronavirus pandemic: Your beginning.

In recent days, the number has increased dramatically Respiratory disease cases in Chinaincluding undiagnosed pneumonia lesions in children.

Chinese media reports Guard overflow situation, mainly pediatrics, in Beijing and other cities. This is where the specter of coronavirus returns.

Chinese authorities attribute the rise in respiratory illnesses to the lifting of anti-COVID restrictions and the spread of known pathogens.

But this is what is known so far about this new respiratory disease. World Health Organization (WHO) sounds the alarm.

November 13, National Health Commission of China The press conference was held due to the increasing incidence of respiratory illnesses in the country’s general population, especially children.

On November 21, various media outlets and ProMED (the global emerging disease surveillance system that relies on the International Society for Infectious Diseases) began talking about “Pneumonia of unknown origin in children” in the northern region of the country. Second alarm.

Today, China has several provinces recorded outbreak. For example, this has brought security under control in places like Beijing, and the specter of school closures is starting to become a reality. Cases have also increased in China’s capital metropolitan area.

The emotional scars of COVID-19 may seem closed, but feel fresh, but most importantly, because The initial center of infection for SARS-CoV-2 is China. Because the new coronavirus was initially thought to be an unusual type of pneumonia. Not because hospitalizations and deaths are now increasing at the rate of the coronavirus.

Faced with any respiratory disease outbreak, China (like the rest of the world) is in a different position than it was in 2020. This is not a detail.

In order to avoid more infections, the National Health Commission has learned from the lessons of this epidemic and Activate coordination agreement Indicate the specific medical center to which the sick child can be sent.

At the same time, it is also recommended that parents See your pediatrician before going to the hospitalor go to a community center “if symptoms are mild.”

Through this measure, resources and beds can be reserved for those who really need them, reducing the risk of overcrowding in large hospital wards.

Currently, only one is talking about pneumonia in childrenthe symptoms of care are “very high or persistent fever”, “frequent coughing that affects normal life” or “shortness of breath”.

These symptoms are associated with any respiratory infection, and This is the first winter since 2019 that China did not take anti-epidemic measures.

One of the most widely spread diseases is “walking pneumonia,” an infection known as “walking pneumonia.” “atypical pneumonia” and is caused by bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Human-to-human transmission occurs through infected respiratory dropletsThe incubation period is two weeks and detection is by culture (sputum, sputum), serology (blood test) and PCR.

Both children and adults can be infected by this bacteria. But the most common cases occur between the ages of 5 and 15.

The World Health Organization is trying to clarify whether there is any type of relationship between the children’s cases and the general resurgence of respiratory illness in China they warned about 10 days ago.

On Wednesday, the organization Request a detailed report.It requested “additional epidemiological and clinical information and laboratory results” and released Prevention advice For its part, the Asian giant has attributed the outbreak to the lifting of preventive measures against the coronavirus.

They ensure that China has increased the spread of pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2 itself, but also influenza, Mycoplasma pneumoniae (common in cases of pneumonia in children, as mentioned above) or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The measures proposed to China are Applied during the epidemic: Get vaccinated, keep your distance from infected people, stay home if you have symptoms, get tested and wear a mask if necessary, in addition to ventilating closed spaces and washing hands frequently.

During the epidemic, the World Health Organization accused China of lacking transparency and cooperation in research Determining the origin of Covidno clear conclusion has been drawn yet.

That’s why the agency is now asking for “additional information on recent trends in the spread of known pathogens, specifically influenza, Covid, RSV affecting infants and infants. Mycoplasma pneumoniae”, as well as details on current levels of crowding in the health system.