According to information from the infectious disease surveillance system (Ministry of Health), many countries near Vietnam have recorded an increase in respiratory diseases caused by influenza virus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus and mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria.
According to international media, white lung syndrome caused by mycoplasma bacteria is becoming a new health concern for children, with cases starting to appear in Europe, following the US and a country in Asia.
To diagnose pneumonia caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae, specific tests are required.
The disease is called "white lung syndrome" because X-rays of the patient show white patches throughout the lungs. Children with the disease have symptoms such as cough, fever, and fatigue.
In the country, this bacteria is warned to easily cause misdiagnosis, putting children in critical condition.
At the Pediatric Center (Bach Mai Hospital), last July, the rate of children infected with mycoplasma accounted for 30 - 40% of pneumonia patients hospitalized for treatment.
At the National Children's Hospital, doctors from the Pediatric Respiratory Center noted that pneumonia has many causes, of which mycoplasma pneumoniae (atypical bacteria) is an important cause of community-acquired pneumonia in children. The disease occurs in all ages, but is more common in older children.
Symptoms of mycoplasma pneumonia in children are easily confused with other pneumonia agents such as viral pneumonia, other bacterial pneumonia because they have symptoms such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing or chest X-rays showing lesions on the film; or are mistaken for the common cold.
If not diagnosed correctly and treated promptly, the disease will become serious, leading to respiratory failure and life-threatening.
The Pediatric Respiratory Center once admitted an 8-year-old patient from Lao Cai, who was admitted to the hospital on the 5th day of illness, with symptoms of high fever, dry cough, rash all over the body, and a chest X-ray showing lobar pneumonia. In-depth testing accurately identified the type of bacteria causing the above condition, with positive results for mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Previously, at home, when the child had a high fever and cough, the family took the child to the local hospital and was diagnosed with viral fever.
Another 10-year-old patient in Thai Binh was brought to the Pediatric Respiratory Center with a persistent cough, high fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and a rash all over the body. He had been treated at a lower-level hospital for 9 days without improvement.
At the National Children's Hospital, after taking the child's medical history, clinical examination, and X-ray, doctors diagnosed the child with hydropneumonia and left pleural effusion caused by mycoplasma.
According to the National Children's Hospital, pneumonia has many causes, of which mycoplasma pneumoniae (atypical bacteria) is an important cause of pneumonia in the community, in children. The disease occurs in all ages, but is more common in older children.
At times, the center receives 150-160 inpatients per day, of which mycoplasma infections account for about 30%.
Pneumonia and other diseases caused by mycoplasma
Regarding the characteristics of mycoplasma, the Pediatric Respiratory Center said that when it enters the body, the incubation period is about 2 - 3 weeks.
After this time, the disease develops, the child has symptoms of respiratory tract infection (sneezing, runny nose, fever).
Children with mycoplasma pneumonia may have high fever, continuous fever from 39 - 40 degrees Celsius. In addition, they may cough a lot, cough in bouts, cough accompanied by difficulty breathing, rapid breathing. Older children may have chest pain, headache, muscle pain, muscle stiffness...
In particular, children with mycoplasma pneumonia may have other extrapulmonary complications such as conjunctivitis, skin rash, cardiovascular complications, gastrointestinal and urinary complications, etc.
To diagnose pneumonia caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae, specific tests are required: diagnostic serology (mycoplasma IgM), or DNA sequence determination of mycoplasma pneumoniae in respiratory secretions using Real-time PCR testing technique.
Bacterial or viral pneumonia in general and mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in particular are transmitted by contact through droplets.
There is currently no vaccine for mycoplasma. To prevent infection in children, parents need to: wash hands with soap, ensure a clean, airy environment; avoid contact with children showing signs of cough or fever.
In addition, having a proper diet helps to increase children's resistance.
In particular, parents should vaccinate their children according to the schedule. Because mycoplasma pneumoniae infection can be co-infected with other bacteria such as pneumococcus, Hip...
(National Children's Hospital)
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