Photo by Kelly Sikkema
Cases of walking pneumonia, primarily caused by the Mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria, are surging among children in the United States this year, particularly affecting preschool-age children. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued warnings regarding this alarming trend, noting a significant increase in emergency room visits related to pneumonia.
Dr. Buddy Creech, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, stated, “t’s very much been on our radar since early summer, when we started to see a remarkable increase in the number of kids with pneumonia who seemed to have this particular type of pneumonia”. He recounted a concerning incident from August when four pediatricians from the Nashville area reached out to him on the same day regarding an unusual number of children suffering from persistent coughs during the summer months. These physicians were seeking advice because their standard antibiotic treatment, amoxicillin, was ineffective for these cases.
The CDC’s data highlights that the percentage of children aged 2 to 4 presenting to emergency rooms with pneumonia and testing positive for Mycoplasma increased from 1% in April 2024 to 7.2% by early October, indicating a staggering 700% rise. In older children, diagnoses also doubled from 36% to 74% during the same timeframe. Dr. Creech anticipates that these elevated numbers will likely persist for another month before beginning to decline later in the fall.
Dr. Geoffrey Weinberg, an infectious disease expert at the University of Rochester Medical Center, identified three main factors contributing to this surge. Firstly, he noted that Mycoplasma infection rates are returning to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. Secondly, he mentioned that infections often follow cyclical patterns, with pediatricians typically observing spikes in Mycoplasma pneumonia every three to seven years as immunity wanes among populations. Lastly, advancements in diagnostic techniques may lead to more frequent identification of this infection.
The CDC emphasizes that traditional antibiotics like amoxicillin and penicillin are ineffective against Mycoplasma pneumoniae; however, other antibiotics such as azithromycin can effectively treat the infection.
As respiratory infections continue to rise this fall, including whooping cough and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), medical professionals remain vigilant. The CDC’s bulletin serves as a crucial reminder for parents and healthcare providers to recognize and respond promptly to symptoms associated with walking pneumonia.
For further details on this developing story and expert insights, visit CNN’s report.
Sources:
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/25/health/walking-pneumonia-surging-kids/index.html
[2] https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/04/health/back-to-school-virus-risks-wellness/index.html
[3] https://www.cnn.com/health
[4] https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/18/health/whooping-cough-cases-rising/index.html
[5] https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/mycoplasma-pneumoniae-infections-have-been-increasing.html
[6] https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/28/health/china-respiratory-illness-surge-wellness/index.html
[7] https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/cases-of-walking-pneumonia-are-surging-in-u-s-kids-this-year-cdc-reports-1.7087372
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