Recently, there have been more patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai and other places. "Mycoplasma pneumonia" is also frequently searched.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is not a bacterium, nor a virus, it is a microorganism between bacteria and viruses. Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, also known as mycoplasma pneumonia, refers to inflammation of the lungs caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Zhang Jie, deputy chief nurse of Xiaotangshan Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Beijing Children's Hospital, said: "The course of mycoplasma pneumonia is mostly about 2 weeks, and the prognosis is generally good, leaving no sequelae. A small number can develop critical illness, often characterized by dyspnea and respiratory failure. ”
Zhang Jie said that Mycoplasma pneumoniae is mainly transmitted by respiratory droplets, and mycoplasma pneumonia is mainly endemic from close contact relatives and communities, and is easy to spread in crowded places such as kindergartens and schools. It is more common in children 5 years of age and older, but can occur in children under 5 years of age. Mycoplasma pneumonia is more common in autumn and winter, with sporadic cases occurring in other seasons.
What are the symptoms of mycoplasma pneumonia? According to the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Children (2023 Edition), the disease has fever and cough as the main clinical manifestations, and may be accompanied by headache, runny nose, sore throat, earache, etc. Among them, fever is mainly moderate to high fever, and persistent high fever indicates serious illness. The cough is more severe and may mimic whooping cough. It should be noted that some children have wheezing, which is more common in infants and young children.
In terms of diagnosis, mycoplasma pneumonia can be judged by combining clinical and imaging manifestations with etiology and serological examination. It is reported that early chest x-ray or chest CT of mycoplasma pneumonia is mainly manifested as thickening and increasing the texture around bronchial vessels, thickening of the bronchial wall, and can have ground-glass opacities, "bud signs", thickening of lobular septum, grid shadows, etc., and then combined with Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibody or nucleic acid detection can be diagnosed.
Some people say that mycoplasma pneumonia is easily confused with the common cold. Li Tong, chief physician of the Department of Infection of Beijing You'an Hospital, once introduced that compared with the common cold, mycoplasma pneumonia has more severe symptoms and longer duration.
The optimal treatment window for mycoplasma pneumonia is 5 to 10 days after fever. In children with mild disease, except for anti-Mycoplasma pneumoniae therapy, systemic glucocorticoid therapy should not be routinely used; Children with severe disease should be treated with a combination of different emphasis.
Li Tong once said that mycoplasma pneumonia is not a statutory infectious disease in China, but it is contagious, and once related symptoms appear, it is necessary to do a good job of protection to avoid infection to others.
Do patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection need treatment? Sun Huaying, a trainee pediatrician at Beijing Shijitan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, said that Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is not equivalent to Mycoplasma pneumonia, and whether treatment is needed depends on the site of infection and symptoms. If an upper respiratory tract infection caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae is suspected, anti-infective therapy is not recommended and can heal spontaneously; When the infection involves the lower respiratory tract, symptoms such as cough will occur, and a small number of infected people will progress to pneumonia and need anti-Mycoplasma pneumoniae treatment.
Currently, there is no vaccine against Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Zhang Jie suggested that after being infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, you can eat some foods that nourish the lungs. Parents should closely observe the changes in the child's condition, and if there are similar symptoms such as wheezing or dyspnea, go to the hospital as soon as possible for examination and treatment, and avoid blind medication and delay the condition. (Science and Technology Daily)