Cases of "childhood white lung" continue to surge around the world! Critical care doctors call on parents: Only by doing "two things" can epidemic prevention be more effective
A large number of cases of “white lung disease in children” have emerged around the world, even attracting the attention of the World Health Organization (WHO), which expressed concern about the surge in cases in China. Dr. Huang Xuan, an expert in critical care medicine, explained on the social media that Beijing is currently experiencing a trend of “multiple pathogens coexisting”. In addition to the recent outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, cases of infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus have also increased simultaneously.
Cases of “childhood white lung” continue to surge around the world! WHO: It is not ruled out that “new mutant viruses” may cause disasters
Experts from the WHO claim that judging from the current trend of white pneumonia epidemics in children, there are more “mixed infections” (such as RSV combined with new coronavirus or influenza virus) than in previous years. Therefore, it is still unclear what causes white pneumonia in children. As for the main pathogen of the lungs, it cannot be ruled out that it is caused by a new type of virus, or that it may only be caused by drug-resistant microorganisms invading the human body and causing symptoms.
Why is this “White Lung” focused on children? Dr. Huang Xuan explained that the possible main reason is that in the more than three years since 2020, the policy to prevent the new crown epidemic has also blocked the spread of other viruses; for example, during the new crown pandemic, the spread of the RSV virus also dropped significantly. Once the epidemic is lifted, these viruses that are easily spread among children will begin to invade the community, causing children to lack immunity against the RSV virus, resulting in the phenomenon of “immunity debt.”
In addition, experts have also discovered that most cases of white lung that currently occur in children are “asymptomatic,” but chest X-rays do reveal pulmonary nodules. This phenomenon is different from the symptoms of previous viral infections, making experts wonder whether there are new mutant viruses that will cause a new wave of pandemic.
“Epidemics have been reported in Beijing and Liaoning, China, but they are 800 kilometers apart. Is this epidemic a local epidemic (endemic) or a regional pandemic (pandemics)? Epidemiological experts point out that the two places are thousands of miles apart. Regarding the spread of the virus outside the country, it is relatively correct to adopt the definition of “pandemic”!”
How to prevent children from being infected with childhood white lung? Only by doing “two things” can epidemic prevention be effective
As for how to prevent children from being infected with childhood white lung? Dr. Huang Xuan said that Stephen Griffin, a virologist from the University of Leeds in the UK, believes that white lung can cause a pandemic among children because the existing influenza vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines in autumn and winter are not fully utilized. Although there is currently no RSV vaccine, you can still get the “flu vaccine” and the “COVID-19 vaccine” at the same time to reduce the risk of infection with other viruses.
In fact, according to WHO reports, the current use of COVID-19 vaccine boosters (boosters) and influenza vaccines around the world is still low. We are still far from achieving the goal of “reaching 75%” of annual influenza vaccine coverage for high-risk groups. It is estimated that after the arrival of winter, whether it is the new coronavirus, influenza virus or RSV virus, there is a possibility of widespread spread.
Is COVID-19 going to become a “flu”? Should we wait? Intensivist: The virus is still spreading around the world
In addition, many people believe that the new coronavirus will eventually become a “flu”. In fact, there are still pandemics of varying scales raging around the world. For example, in Finland, the amount of virus in its wastewater seemed to have peaked on November 24 this year; and the daily number of deaths due to the new coronavirus was close to the highest number during the pandemic.
Not only has the number of excess deaths increased, but until this year, Finland also found that the total number of infections among children and adolescents aged 1-6 and 7-14 increased by 35% and 15% respectively; the number of sick infants and young children under 1 year old increased by 56%. Dr. Huang Xuan said, “Any infectious virus is still spreading around the world.” It is too early to make a conclusion to prove that the new coronavirus will eventually become a seasonal virus.
Finally, Dr. Huang Xuan reminded that the new crown vaccine booster and influenza vaccine are still the “best prevention tools” in the autumn and winter of 2023 and 2024. If children are not vaccinated against epidemic viruses during this period, it is estimated that more than 60% of the Chinese people and 10% of the global population may be quickly attacked by the virus in the next 90 days; the total number of infections and deaths will be even higher Possibly more than a few million people.
In general, Dr. Huang Xuan suggested that in addition to urging children to implement anti-epidemic measures such as washing hands frequently, wearing masks, and avoiding crowded places, parents should also take their children to receive influenza vaccine and COVID-19 XBB.1.5 vaccine as soon as possible. Effective epidemic prevention work.
Source:
“Mycoplasma Infection, Don’t Worry Too Much” - Dr. Ooi Hean
Why is there an outbreak of mycoplasma pneumonia? - Dr. Ooi Hean
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