Recently, Bach Mai Hospital has continuously received pediatric patients with pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma; in which, there have been recorded cases of severe pneumonia complications requiring oxygen therapy and some cases of drug-resistant lobar pneumonia.
Discussing pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma bacteria, MSc. Dr. Do Hoang Hai, Pediatric Center (Bach Mai Hospital) said: "Currently at the Center, the rate of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma bacteria accounts for 30 - 40% of children with pneumonia who must be hospitalized for treatment. Mycoplasma infection is most common in school-age adolescents, but can occur at any age."
According to MSc. Dr. Do Hoang Hai, Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the causes of community-acquired pneumonia in children and also manifests some pathologies in organs other than the lungs. Mycoplasma infections can be mild and have nonspecific symptoms but can account for up to 20% of community-acquired pneumonia cases, especially in children. Patients may also experience wheezing or asthma attacks in children, as well as affect some organs other than the lungs such as: Skin, mucous membranes, muscles, joints, heart and central nervous system.
Mycoplasma pneumonia can progress slowly and subacutely, children may have a low fever that then progresses to a higher fever and persistent cough. The incubation period can be from 2 to 3 weeks. Initially, children may have upper respiratory symptoms such as: cough, sneezing, runny nose, mild fever. Then the disease can progress or cause complications of pneumonia leading to high fever, persistent cough, difficulty breathing, some older children may develop acute asthma attacks or have other atypical symptoms such as headache, muscle pain, chest pain, etc.
Serious complications are uncommon, but there may be severe cases requiring hospitalization or even death. Serious complications of Mycoplasma infection include: severe pneumonia, acute onset of bronchial asthma, encephalitis, hemolytic anemia, renal failure, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, etc.
Mycoplasma pneumonia can cause extrapulmonary diseases and respiratory infections such as: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura, acute hepatitis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, arthritis and transverse myelitis...
Patients infected with Mycoplasma bacteria will be treated with specific antibiotics according to the regimen, common antibiotics will not respond to infections caused by Mycoplasma bacteria.
MSc. Dr. Do Hoang Hai also warned: Children living and studying in crowded environments have a higher risk of Mycoplasma infection. The bacteria are transmitted from person to person through small droplets in the air, usually only occurring when in close contact. Therefore, to effectively prevent infection, it is best for people to wear masks, wash their hands, and prevent the disease from spreading through droplets.
When there are signs of suspected Mycoplasma pneumonia, parents should take their children to a pediatrician for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. When there is clinical suspicion, the doctor will order a test to identify Mycoplasma bacteria.
If Mycoplasma bacteria are not detected and treated properly, it will cause dangerous complications for the patient and can spread widely in the community. Therefore, parents should take their children to the doctor immediately when they have unusual symptoms such as fever, fatigue, persistent cough, etc.
(According to News)
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