Several European countries have reported an increase in cases of mycoplasma pneumonia in children this year, caused by a bacterial infection, which is already being compared to the growth of this infection in China. Euronews writes and UNN reports.
Details
Six countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area have reported an increase in the number of cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, which may be associated with the usual resurgence of the bacteria. The infections are caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which causes both mild respiratory infections and severe pneumonia. It is noted that it is the most common cause of pneumonia in school-age children and, according to Public Health France, it can account for 30 to 50 % of cases of pneumonia in children. of pneumonia in children.
Reference
Mycoplasma pneumonia pneumonia is an atypical lung infection caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The peak of seasonal fluctuations in the incidence of such pneumonia is characteristic of autumn and winter. According to statistics, children and adolescents are mostly affected. and adolescents.
In case of pneumonia the air sacs of the lungs become inflamed. They can fill with fluid or pus and cause symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.
Researchers Mike Beaton and Patrick Meyer Soter began studying observations of the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae in 2020 and found that, like other respiratory infections, cases began to disappear due to COVID-19 restrictions.
But while other common infections such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) re-emerged, mycoplasma remained absent for some time.
We knew it would resurface at some point because there were still occasional random detections in different countries
Where is the virus spreading? is the virus spreading?
The team that coordinating the international surveillance of the infection found that the number of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections has increased over the past six months. Several European countries have recently reported a surge in cases: Denmark, France, and the Netherlands, among others.
Last month, the media citing the ProMed service (which tracks human and animal disease outbreaks around the Last month, the media, citing the ProMed service (which monitors outbreaks of human and animal diseases around the world), reported an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in China: it was about "undiagnosed pneumonia" in children in northern China.
WHO has requested detailed information from China on China for detailed information on the recent surge of respiratory diseases and pneumonia clusters in children after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and reports of circulation of various pathogens.