Cases of mysterious pneumonia outbreaks in China and parts of the U.S. have set off alarms. But what’s truly happening behind the scenes?
An unexpected rise in childhood pneumonia cases has captured attention both in China and parts of the U.S., raising concerns about a potential connection to a condition labeled as “white lung syndrome.”
In recent weeks, health officials in Warren County, Ohio, highlighted a significant increase in pediatric pneumonia cases, with 145 reported incidents among children aged 3 to 14 since August. Additionally, several media outlets have noted a slight uptick in cases in Massachusetts, according to Becker’s Hospital Review.
Is there a genuine cause for alarm?
“In the beginning, reports of a surge in respiratory infections in China triggered apprehension that this might resemble a sequel to COVID,” expressed William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease expert and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
However, upon closer examination of the data, Schaffner clarified, “It seems we’re witnessing a seasonal uptick in respiratory infections. While it’s slightly higher than usual, it’s not entirely unexpected.”
Pneumonia Rates in the U.S. Aligned with Typical Pre-Pandemic Levels A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report indicated that the percentage of emergency department visits with diagnosed pneumonia among children aged 0 to 4 years remained largely consistent with previous years. Although there were marginal increases above normal levels for children aged 5 to 17 years, these numbers were within pre-pandemic parameters.
The CDC suggested that this surge in cases is likely attributable to viruses and bacteria commonly encountered during the respiratory illness season, rather than originating from a foreign pathogen.
“These infections we’re seeing in the United States are caused by viruses and bacteria endemic to our region.”
Dr. Schaffner
The CDC remains vigilant, monitoring heightened incidents of respiratory illnesses both domestically and globally, including in China.
Understanding the Recent Pneumonia Outbreaks Pneumonia, an infection affecting the air sacs in the lungs, often results in the filling of these sacs with fluid or pus. Pathogens identified in Ohio labs responsible for pneumonia cases include Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, along with adenovirus.
Mycoplasma bacteria predominantly drive the surge in childhood pneumonia cases in Asia and Europe.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) highlighted recent increases in mycoplasma pneumonia in six European countries, noting that these infections tend to peak every one to three years.
Pandemic Consequences and Pneumonia Clusters Schaffner suggests that the rise in pneumonia cases may be influenced, in part, by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns and isolation might have limited children’s ability to build immunity against mycoplasma infection.
Encouragingly, pneumonia caused by mycoplasma infection is usually mild and rarely requires hospitalization, often termed “walking pneumonia” due to the ability of individuals to maintain their daily routines despite illness.
The CDC states that most people recover without specific treatment, but antibiotics are available for severe infections.
Despite this, the American Lung Association warns, “Don’t underestimate walking pneumonia, which often presents with cough, fever, chest pain, mild chills, and headache.”
Clarification on ‘White Lung Syndrome’ Certain sources have labeled pneumonia cases caused by mycoplasma as “white lung syndrome” due to visible lung inflammation appearing as white patches on X-rays. However, Schaffner remarks that this name might be creating unnecessary controversy.
Jake Scott, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Stanford Medicine, dismissed “white lung syndrome” as a fabricated term, emphasizing that any pneumonia type would show as white areas on X-rays and CT scans, not specifically linked to Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Preventing Pneumonia Amidst Holiday Gatherings As the holiday season progresses and indoor gatherings increase, more respiratory infections may occur.
Recommendations
To minimize the risk of pneumonia, the American Lung Association recommends:
- Obtaining an annual flu vaccine to lower flu-related pneumonia risks.
- Consulting your doctor regarding eligibility for a pneumonia vaccine (while unavailable for viral or mycoplasma pneumonia, certain individuals should receive pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination).
- Ensuring your pertussis vaccine is up to date.
- Prioritizing exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep.
- Maintaining thorough hand hygiene with warm, soapy water.
- Abstaining from smoking.
- Covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing, encouraging others to do the same to limit infection spread.