As respiratory infectious diseases continue to spread in China, not only China but the entire world is unable to let go of tension. As more and more schools were temporarily closed and the number of patients increased to the point where pediatric hospitals were paralyzed, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently requested related data from the Chinese authorities.
Even in Korea, the spread of respiratory infectious diseases is showing unusual signs. Influenza (flu) continues to be an all-time epidemic, and recently, the number of patients co-infected with not only Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is prevalent in China, but also rhinovirus and adenovirus, is increasing, and the voices of pediatricians and adolescent doctors are growing, calling for the need to prepare for this. .
According to overseas media such as AFP on the 28th, WHO officially requested detailed information from China on the increase in respiratory diseases and reports of pneumonia clusters in children through a statement recently posted on its website.
Since mid-October, flu-like illnesses have increased significantly in northern China, showing signs of a pandemic compared to the same period over the past three years.
However, China told the WHO that although pneumonia was rapidly increasing among children, it was not a new virus.
As the number of patients continued to paralyze hospital work even though it was not a new virus, Chinese health authorities encouraged citizens to wear masks, wash their hands, and observe social distancing as mycoplasma pneumonia, rhinovirus, and anedovirus are prevalent. there is.
Currently, the most prevalent respiratory infectious disease in China is mycoplasma pneumonia. This pneumonia is caused by infection with mycoplasma bacteria and occurs mainly in people aged 5 to 9.
Infection is usually accompanied by a high fever of over 38 degrees and a severe cough, and the cough containing phlegm lasts for about 3 to 4 weeks. It also has the characteristic of not responding well to general antibiotics and fever reducers.
Mycoplasma pneumonia is currently spreading in Korea.
Trends in the number of hospitalized patients aged 1 to 12 years with bacterial acute respiratory infection by week. The light blue graph shows the number of mycoplasma pneumonia patients. Provided by Korea Disease Control and Prevention AgencyAccording to the status of reports received by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency from 218 hospital-level medical institutions, the number of patients hospitalized with mycoplasma pneumonia has steadily increased since the end of August, reaching 126 from October 22 to 28 (43rd week) and 173 in the 44th week. People → 226 people at the 45th week → 230 people at the 46th week, showing a continuous increase. Last year, the number of patients at 46 weeks was 52, and the number of patients this year increased by a whopping 4.4 times.
Accordingly, an official from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency explained, “It is true that the number of mycoplasma pneumonia patients continues to increase, but compared to before the COVID-19 epidemic, this number is low at 230 in the 46th week of 2018 and 633 in 2019.”
However, in the field, we are feeling that the number of patients with acute respiratory infectious diseases is clearly increasing. It was said that the number of patients with mycoplasma pneumonia has increased, but the number of cases of co-infection as well as patients infected with flu, rhinovirus, and adenovirus is also increasing.
Choi Yong-jae, president of the Korean Children’s Hospital Association, responded to the question, “China has been shaken by mycoplasma pneumonia, but is Korea still okay?” and responded, “It is not okay.” He answered.
He continued, “The problem now is not only infection with mycoplasma pneumonia, but also overlap infection with the flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus, etc., which are prevalent these days. If you are super-infected, it is very easy to progress to serious illness, but in reality, in the field, double-infection is causing tragic deaths. “There are many cases where things happen,” he explained.
“As an example, a 9-year-old boy was simultaneously infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, coronavirus, and adenovirus and received treatment at a nearby hospital. He developed bronchitis on the first day, bronchial pneumonia on the second day, and lobar pneumonia on the third day, and was hospitalized at a university hospital. “He died after being in the intensive care unit for about 10 days,” he said.
In fact, as a result of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s analysis of patients hospitalized with acute respiratory infections, it was found that the number of patients hospitalized with viruses such as flu and rhinovirus is increasing.
According to the surveillance of patients hospitalized with acute respiratory infections and influenza viruses, the number of patients began to increase from 966 in the 41st week of October (October 8-14), and 1,189 in the 42nd week → 1,397 in the 43rd week → 1,570 in the 44th week → 45th week. The number steadily increased from 1,440 → 1,596 in the 46th week.
Cumulative status of rhinovirus hospitalizations. Provided by Korea Disease Control and Prevention AgencyIn particular, there is a clear increase in the number of patients with rhinovirus and adenovirus, which are currently prevalent in China.
The number of patients hospitalized with rhinovirus was 470 at week 46, and 131 were hospitalized with adenovirus. This is a significant increase compared to 281 and 27 people, respectively, in the same period last year.
Rhinovirus causes acute respiratory infection, which usually presents symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, and cough, which are thought to be common colds. Adenovirus is also called ‘eye mucus’ because it is accompanied by cold symptoms and keratoconjunctivitis. Both viruses occur frequently in young age groups, such as infants and children.
In particular, in Korea, rhinovirus is showing a large spread among children aged 1 to 6 years. Of the 17,350 cumulative patients hospitalized due to rhinovirus this year, about 11,000 are patients aged 1 to 6.
Director Choi said, “As the winter season is perfect for the virus to spread, this kind of spread is unlikely to be easily caught,” adding, “It is not time for the relevant authorities to say that there is no significant difference in the incidence rate compared to the pre-COVID-19 period.” He pointed out.
“In particular, the macrolide antibiotics used for mycoplasma pneumonia are imported raw materials, and the same raw materials are used in China. We are concerned that the spread of microplasma pneumonia in China will affect the supply and demand of drugs,” he said. “The use of alternative drugs is important.” “We need to quickly establish measures to address this, such as expanding permit standards,” he said.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.