Watch your children’s breathing: this indicates danger: an outbreak of a strange disease has reappeared in China

On November 21, the first reports of a serious outbreak appeared in Beijing and other Chinese cities.

Photo: REUTERS

At the beginning of November, a sharp increase in incidence began in China: people became ill en masse due to the mixture of a viral cocktail. As Mi Feng, a representative of the National Health Commission, recently noted, the standard autumn-winter set of viruses is spreading in China: influenza, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, adenovirus. But this mixture was also mixed with a bacteria, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, the culprit of respiratory tract infections. The Associated Press writes about this.

Late last week, the WHO asked China to provide data on the new outbreak: an increase in incidence among children began around November 20. His atypical pneumonia is caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

“Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a type of bacteria that causes atypical pneumonia (the typical one is pneumococcus), writes scientific communicator Evgeniy Nedilsky. – Infections occur throughout the year in different climatic conditions. And epidemics caused by mycoplasmas occur approximately every 1 to 3 years. The most recent epidemic occurred about 4 years ago in Europe and Asia.”

Children’s hospitals are overcrowded

Photo: REUTERS

That is, it is impossible to call the bacteria that causes SARS new, but why now and in China? It is obvious that the Covid pandemic and the strict preventive measures (and China followed them more diligently than anyone else) have drastically reduced the circulation of both viruses and bacteria. Remember how we barely got the flu during the first year of the pandemic? She only began to raise her head last year, when the masks were finally removed.

According to Evgeny Nedilsky, it is precisely thanks to strict preventive measures that virus outbreaks in China can be more pronounced. And in general, compared to other viral and bacterial infections, SARS increased its pace more slowly: it is transmitted slowly between people, it develops more slowly (that is, the number of bacteria in the affected body increases compared to viruses ). And the incubation period of atypical pneumonia is long: one to three weeks.

This explains the dramatic outbreak of the disease after the first reports of an increase in incidence among children in China (appeared on November 13).

In fact, cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection were reported in China in May. And then it burst into flames. On November 21, the first reports of a serious outbreak appeared in Beijing and other Chinese cities. Children’s hospitals are overcrowded. After all, it is not only about this bacteria, but also about the typical childhood viruses: adenoviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses. And the flu, of course. Bacteria are more likely to attach to the bodies of children weakened by the virus.

Precisely thanks to strict preventive measures, virus outbreaks in China may be more pronounced.

Photo: REUTERS

By the way, there have also been reports from France: for the first time in 15 years, the incidence of pneumonia caused by mycoplasma has increased considerably, writes Dr. Alexander Solovyov quoting LeParisien. “According to the observations of French pediatricians, the disease manifests itself as fever, accompanied by severe fatigue (drowsiness) and subsequent cough,” notes Soloviev.

“Atypical pneumonia is caused not only by mycoplasmas and coronaviruses, but also by other bacteria and viruses,” explains Evgeniy Timakov, head physician at the Leader Medicine clinic, pediatrician and infectious disease specialist. – From time to time, similar outbreaks are observed in our country. In autumn, an increase in the incidence of mycoplasma pneumonia is often recorded in children’s groups. The main symptoms are paroxysmal cough, difficulty breathing, chills and sweating, muscle aches and headaches, and fever. In general, all the signs of a standard acute respiratory viral infection, but of a prolonged nature (cough can last for several months). The danger is that bacteria and viruses that affect the bronchi and lungs can cause cardiopulmonary failure with lack of oxygen. In addition to complications due to poisoning, the addition of a secondary infection, even sepsis and complications requiring resuscitation. In some cases, deaths also occur… Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the breathing of sick children: if it is intermittent, heavy, whistling, especially if the skin color changes to bluish, do not hesitate. . – consult a doctor. It is important to diagnose and start treatment for pneumonia in a timely manner.