A surge in paediatric respiratory infections in China, mainly related to respiratory illnesses and pneumonia, has been attributed to respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, Covid-19, and perhaps most importantly, say experts, mycoplasma – a main cause of “walking pneumonia”.
Last week, there were reports of an increase in hospital admissions, with many of the country’s paediatric medical centres crowded with sick children, reports Forbes.
The wave of pneumonia cases sweeping through parts of the country prompted the WHO to request details on possible sources, and thus far, Chinese officials say causal agents include known pathogens, such as mycoplasma, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
Chinese health authorities told the WHO that the surge – mainly among children in the northern part of the country – was simply part of a continued rise in infections since the lifting of Covid restrictions.
Authorities have not detected “unusual or novel pathogens or unusual clinical presentations”, even in Beijing and Liaoning, where the recent reports had raised concerns, the WHO said last week, after asking China for “detailed information” on the rise in cases mentioned by posts on ProMED, an infectious disease news service run by the International Society for Infectious Diseases.
A report had cited “many, many” children being hospitalised…..more
