What is the hotly searched "Mycoplasma pneumonia"? How to treat it?

Recently, the incidence of mycoplasma pneumonia has increased in my country, especially in southern regions such as Guangdong and Fujian, which has increased significantly compared with the same period last year. On the 12th, "mycoplasma pneumonia" became a hot search. What is it? How old are children most likely to get it? And how should it be treated?

Zhao Shunying , deputy director of the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases (Children), explained the relevant situation of mycoplasma pneumonia. What is mycoplasma pneumonia?

What are the characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumonia this year?

Mycoplasma pneumonia is an acute lung infection caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. It is the most common community-acquired pneumonia in children aged 5 years and above in China . Mycoplasma pneumonia is widely present around the world, with regional epidemics occurring approximately every 3 to 7 years. (Community-acquired pneumonia refers to pneumonia acquired outside a hospital, and also includes inflammatory lesions that appear in the lungs within 48 hours after admission to the hospital.)

Experts said that mycoplasma is a microorganism, neither a bacterium nor a virus, and the pneumonia it causes is completely different from the new coronavirus . Pathogens that cause pneumonia generally have seasonal outbreaks. Mycoplasma pneumonia has been prevalent in some areas of China in the past two years, especially this year, with clusters of outbreaks in a few families or classes, but it is not an infectious disease and is not as contagious as the new coronavirus.

Experts said that compared with previous years, mycoplasma pneumonia in my country has become more common this year at a younger age, with some children under 3 years old also falling ill. If related symptoms occur, people should seek medical attention in a timely manner.

How is Mycoplasma pneumoniae spread?

What are the symptoms?

Mycoplasma infection is mainly transmitted through direct contact and droplet transmission.

The symptoms of children infected with mycoplasma are similar to those of most respiratory diseases, with fever and cough as the main symptoms. The cough is generally severe, and may continue for 1 to 2 weeks after the fever subsides.

Zhao Shunying, deputy director of the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases (Children), said that this year is the epidemic season for mycoplasma. If children have a fever or cough, especially a severe dry cough, they are likely to be infected with mycoplasma.

Experts especially remind parents of young children that when mycoplasma pneumonia occurs, the child's fever may not be serious, but there may be wheezing or difficulty breathing, or a depression in the clavicle. "That is, when the child inhales, there is a pit in the clavicle or nasal congestion when the nose inhales, you should go to the hospital for treatment in time."

How to treat Mycoplasma pneumonia?

How to prevent it in daily life?

Experts said that this year, China has formulated relevant diagnosis and treatment guidelines for mycoplasma pneumonia in children. In terms of treatment, penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics are ineffective in treating mycoplasma pneumonia, and symptomatic medication is required. Macrolide antibiotics, such as roxithromycin and azithromycin, are currently the first choice for the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia.

Once fever accompanied by severe cough occurs, you should seek medical attention promptly, find out the cause as soon as possible, and receive standardized treatment. Do not take medication blindly on your own.

In daily protection, we should pay attention to reducing gatherings, maintaining good hygiene habits such as frequent hand washing .

Currently, there is no targeted vaccine to prevent mycoplasma pneumonia. Experts remind↓

Pay attention to indoor ventilation, try to avoid going to crowded and poorly ventilated public places, and wear a mask if you must go.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Keep your hands clean and wash them frequently with soap or hand sanitizer under running water .

Schools, kindergartens and other places should pay attention to ventilation and disinfection to avoid clustered infections.

▌This article is sourced from: CCTV News WeChat Official Account, Hubei News