What is walking pneumonia and why does it seem to be on the rise?

mycoplasma pneumoniaPneumonia, also known as walking pneumonia, is a mild bacterial infection that largely affects children and teenagers and can usually be treated with antibiotics.

The infection got its unofficial name because infected people are usually not as sick as other types of pneumonia.

Infectious diseases specialist at Toronto General Hospital, Dr. “It’s called walking pneumonia because not many people are sick enough to lie on their backs at home or in the hospital,” Isaac Bogoch said.

“Many people can go about their daily routine feeling unwell but are not sick enough to stay at home. However, this is just a colloquial term and of course we know it can make some people very ill.”

in October, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an increase in cases mycoplasma pneumonia infections, especially in young children. The increase began in late spring and case numbers have remained high.

Canada does not track the number of cases of walking pneumonia, but doctors say they are seeing an increase in cases.

Pediatric infectious disease specialist at Montreal Children’s Hospital, Dr. Earl Rubin said he has seen patients admitted to the hospital and testing positive since the summer.

“When I talk to my colleagues in pediatric infectious disease around the country, I see that everyone is going through the same thing,” Rubin said.

“We have received some signals that traffic is increasing in Quebec and we are monitoring the situation,” the province’s Ministry of Health said in a statement. he said.

Halifax hospital IWK Health reported a total of 11 cases last year. There have been 113 cases so far this year, 28 of which were pediatric inpatients.

The BC Center for Disease Control says its surveillance shows the province is seeing more respiratory infections. M. pneumonia compared to previous years – especially among people under 20 – and is monitoring the situation closely.

BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver has also seen an increase in children presenting to the emergency room with walking pneumonia since August.

What causes this?

Respiratory infection caused by bacteria mycoplasma pneumonia.

Bogoch said it spreads through the air. This includes when a person coughs or sneezes, the CDC said.

Who gets it?

Infections can occur at any age, but are most common in children and young adults ages 5 to 17. The CDC calls the increase in children ages 2 to 4 since March “remarkable because pneumoniae “It has not historically been recognized as the leading cause of pneumonia in this age group.”

Adults can also be affected. If someone gets infected, you can expect a third of the household to become infected, Rubin said.

What are the symptoms?

pneumoniae Infections are usually mild and often present as a cold with fever, cough, and fatigue.

Pneumonia, meaning the lungs are affected, can occur in about a quarter of cases, Rubin said.

Nausea, vomiting, or loose stools may also occur.

What is the treatment?

Doctors usually diagnose infection based on a patient’s signs, symptoms, and history without waiting for confirmatory laboratory test results.

Doctors say the majority of people will recover on their own.

The bacteria are considered atypical because they lack the cell wall that some other pneumonia antibiotics act on, Rubin said.

“Azithromycin is a very common and widely available antibiotic that can be used to treat this infection,” Bogoch said. “There are other options.”

Why are cases increasing?

There are a few thoughts on why there are more cases. pneumoniae It is currently being observed by following the precautions of the COVID-19 epidemic.

“One potential hypothesis is that there are more people who are not immune to the disease and are therefore more susceptible,” Rubin said. “When you combine that with something that is highly contagious, you can expect the numbers to go up.”

He said there was no evidence that the bacteria itself had changed.

Is there anything to watch out for?

Pediatricians say most children can be treated at home. They need to stay hydrated, be given age-appropriate medications to reduce fever when necessary, and rest.

The infection is associated with wheezing, which may resemble asthma or aggravate existing asthma, Rubin said.

“If someone is having respiratory distress, if someone is much sicker than they’re used to with a normal cold, then definitely… seek medical attention,” he advised.

D., an emergency physician and family physician at Oak Valley Health Uxbridge Hospital north of Toronto. Carlye Jensen said pneumonia can sometimes follow a viral infection like a cold.

So if someone is feeling better and suddenly starts feeling sick again, especially in the chest area or if they start running a fever, it’s worth getting checked, he said.

Difficulty breathing, dehydration, or lethargy are signs that the child should be seen by a doctor, as doctors often recommend.

Prevention tips reinforced

British Columbia health officials recommend people stay up to date on vaccines, including updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines, as well as routine vaccines for children.

“There are vaccines that protect against some types of pneumonia caused by Streptococcus bacteria. Although these vaccines do not directly prevent pneumoniaeThey can reduce the possibility of secondary bacterial infection. M. pneumoniae “Or the possibility of more severe disease due to viral co-infection,” a spokesperson for the BC Center for Disease Control said in an email.

To prevent all respiratory infections, people are advised to clean their hands regularly, stay home when sick, especially if they have a fever, wear a mask in indoor public spaces if they can do so safely and if they can, and avoid coughing and sneezing. to their elbows.