Why more and more children and young people are suffering from atypical pneumonia and what parents need to know!
If you haven't heard of mycoplasma yet, it's high time. Since late summer, these bacteria have been spreading primarily among children and young peopleare increasingly causing an atypicalPneumonia.
It hit us recently too. My daughter (11) suffered from a dry cough and a high temperature (up to 38.5 degrees) for several days. Her shallow, rapid breathing was also striking. When we finally sat at the doctor after the holiday weekend that was far too long, it quickly became clear that she had pneumonia, probably caused by the same mycoplasma, more precisely Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
What are mycoplasmas and why are they currently so dangerous?
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a bacterium that is transmitted via droplet infection. It is not unknown. So far, however, infection in children and adolescents has had a mild course. Mycoplasmas are currently increasingly causing atypical pneumonia, particularly in children and adolescents. This is why and because the diagnosis is not clear, the bacterium is so treacherous.
Pneumonia usually presents with high fever, chills and a severe cough. Clear symptoms that alert doctors immediately. However, in atypical pneumonia caused by mycoplasma, the symptoms appear much more slowly. Initially there is a slight fever, dry cough and headache. Non-specific symptoms that can also indicate a simple flu-like infection.
However, the symptoms do not remain mild nor do they go away on their own after three to four days. The dry cough in particular becomes stronger as the infection progresses. Headaches also increase and body aches and neck stiffness can occur.
Why are mycoplasmas currently causing more and more pneumonia?
Mycoplasma infections have been spreading for a few monthsworldwideincreasingly. Two reasons for this are being discussed, which can be the cause of the current wave of infections individually, but more likely even work simultaneously.
Number 1:Like Corona, mycoplasma infection is also a respiratory disease. Wearing masks greatly reduced their spread during the Corona period. The theory goes that because there were fewer mycoplasma infections, the human immune system has virtually weaned itself off, which is why the pathogen can now 'hit' more intensively.
Number 2:Mycoplasma pneumonias have always occurred in cycles. You can do it every three to seven yearsaccording to expertnotice an increased occurrence. Which is probably related to different subtypes of the pathogen. With each new subtype, the immune system has to adapt anew. A new subtype may currently be spreading.
Treatment of Mycoplasma pneunomiae
Although mycoplasmas are bacteria, many antibiotics do not work against them. This is because the mycoplasma lacks the cell walls to which the drug normally attaches to fight the pathogen. Therefore, if a mycoplasma infection is proven, a special antibiotic must be prescribed. This then works within a few days.
If left untreated, infected people can be sick for up to 6 weeks, with the cough in particular lasting a long time. In addition, untreated pneumonia can lead to serious complications.
Warning signs for parents
Especially during the cold season around autumn and winter, weeks rarely go by without a child coughing or sneezing. Without any other symptoms, these small flu-like infections are no reason to worry. Up to.
Parents should be particularly careful if their child develops simple cold symptoms such as cough and runny nose, headache or fever and this persists for several days. The rule of thumb is: If the child is really sick for more than two to three days, medical advice should always be sought. The younger children are, the sooner medical advice should be sought.
You should also see a doctor if (in addition to the cough) you can hear slight crackling noises when inhaling and exhaling or if your breathing is noticeably shallow. This is a sign that a pathogen has reached the lungs. Only a doctor can determine which pathogen this is and whether it is mycoplasma.
If the child has obvious problems breathing or is visibly having difficulty, medical advice should be sought immediately.
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