What common misunderstandings about mycoplasma infection should be avoided? Remember these nine measures to prevent respiratory infectious diseases in winter

Autumn and winter are the peak seasons for various respiratory infectious diseases. In children, respiratory infectious diseases are mainly caused by influenza virus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. In the whole population, respiratory infectious diseases are mainly caused by influenza virus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. In particular, terms such as "mycoplasma" have frequently been on the hot search list recently.

So what is mycoplasma? What are the measures to prevent respiratory infectious diseases in winter? Let's take a look!

What is Mycoplasma?

Mycoplasma is a microorganism between viruses and bacteria, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of them. It is a common pathogen in nature. Mycoplasma pneumoniae has no cell wall structure, like a bacterium without a "coat". The main transmission route is through droplets, and the pathogen can be carried in the secretions when coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. It is very small, only about 0.1-0.3 microns in size.

Can mycoplasma infection be directly equated with pneumonia?

Mycoplasma pneumoniae can not only cause pneumonia, but also upper respiratory tract infections and other extrapulmonary symptoms such as rashes, neurological problems, cardiovascular abnormalities, and blood system-related diseases. A considerable number of infected people do not show any symptoms.

It is worth noting that although the name "Mycoplasma pneumoniae" implies an association with pneumonia, in fact, infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae does not mean that you will definitely develop pneumonia, and infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae cannot be directly equated with pneumonia.

Can adults be infected with mycoplasma?

Under normal circumstances, the susceptible population for Mycoplasma pneumonia is children and adolescents, and children and adolescents under the age of 14 are particularly susceptible. However, adults can also be infected with Mycoplasma when their immunity is low and their resistance to disease is weakened.

About one-third of children infected with mycoplasma have no obvious clinical symptoms, which is called latent infection. These children will only be found to be carrying mycoplasma infection when tested.

What are the characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumonia in children?

One of the hallmarks of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is a prolonged cough, especially in the morning, evening, and at night.

The main clinical features are as follows:

(1) The onset is relatively acute, with symptoms such as fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, or mild cyanosis.

(ii) In severe cases, the patient may experience persistent high fever, shortness of breath, restlessness, grayish complexion, and worsening cyanosis.

If similar symptoms as mentioned above occur, parents need to be vigilant and must remember to seek medical attention promptly. Do not judge the condition on your own or use medication indiscriminately , which may cause mild illnesses to become severe or critical.

remind:

After the human body is infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, it does not produce permanent immunity, so repeated infections can occur.

Transmission through respiratory droplets is the main route of infection for Mycoplasma pneumoniae. It is recommended that everyone wear masks, pay attention to coughing etiquette and maintain good personal hygiene habits, which are effective ways to avoid repeated infections. At the same time, improving "immunity" means improving the body's ability to resist foreign pathogens. The immune system is like our body's guard army, building a "Great Wall" for the body to prevent disease.

What are the measures to prevent various respiratory infectious diseases in winter?

1. Avoid gathering

Try to avoid crowded and poorly ventilated public places, wear a mask when necessary, and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

2. Wash your hands frequently

Maintain good personal hygiene habits and keep your hands clean.

3. Provide ventilation

Open windows in classrooms and homes for ventilation to maintain hygiene and air circulation. It is recommended to open windows for ventilation 2-3 times a day, each time for no less than 30 minutes.

4. Exercise regularly

Insisting on physical exercise is not only beneficial to our physical and mental health, but also can improve the body's immunity. In winter, the temperature is low in the morning and the haze is heavy, which is not suitable for morning exercise. You can do some simple exercises at home, such as jogging and doing exercises indoors.

The best time for outdoor exercise is 3 or 4 pm. Do not go out on snowy or windy days. Avoid heavy sweating during exercise, just a little sweating is appropriate, and do it for about half an hour each time.

5. Sufficient nutrition

Ensuring adequate nutrition and improving your physical fitness through daily diet is also a good way to prevent colds.

Winter is a good time to replenish your body. Consider supplementing with foods rich in high-quality protein, such as lean meat, chicken and duck, eggs, fish, milk, soy products, etc.

In addition to meat, nourishing foods include lily, ophiopogon japonicus, tremella, jujube, yam, etc. You can eat more fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C to provide body resistance. Pay attention to the combination of meat and vegetables and balance nutrition.

You can also boil water with onions, ginger, and white radish. If you have indigestion, you can add hawthorn to it. Drinking it occasionally can prevent colds. Try not to eat raw or cold food in winter, and eat less irritating food.

6. Drink plenty of water

The weather in winter is relatively dry, which can easily lead to a decrease in water in our bodies. To prevent colds in winter, you must drink water frequently. Drinking water can keep the oral and nasal mucosa moist and can effectively remove bacteria and viruses. After drinking water, toxins in the body will be excreted through urine.

7. Keep warm

In winter, the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors is large. When going out, you should pay special attention to keeping your head, feet, and back warm. You can wear a hat and a mask, and take cold and warm measures before going out.

8. Go to bed early

Try to go to bed early and get up early, don't stay up late, and don't sleep past 11pm at the latest, and ensure 8 hours of sleep every day. The air in the quilt is not flowing smoothly, so be careful not to sleep with your head covered by the quilt when you rest at night.

9. Soak your feet

When the weather is cold, many people tend to have cold hands and feet. Soaking your feet in warm water every night before going to bed can prevent colds. Make sure the water is above your feet. If the water gets cold, add hot water so that you can slowly adapt to the temperature. Do not pour too hot water at once, especially for diabetic patients, who must pay attention to the water temperature to avoid burns.