Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is prone to aggregation in adults and should not be underestimated – Huasheng Online

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is prone to aggregation and should not be underestimated in adults

Doctor’s reminder: You should not use or abuse drugs at will. Any off-label medication must be used under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.

Comics/Yu Ningshan

Changsha Evening News all-media reporter Yang Weiran correspondent Li Ping Zhang Zhang

After the beginning of winter, the temperature drops sharply, and respiratory diseases in various places enter the season of high incidence, with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, influenza, etc. intertwined and superimposed. Reporters recently learned from the outpatient and emergency departments of various hospitals in the provincial capital that during the high incidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in children, some parents who took care of their children were infected at the same time. What are the epidemic characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection this year? What are the transmission routes, affected groups, and main symptoms? Are the treatments for Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in adults and children the same? How to prevent the menacing Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection? In response to these social concerns On hot issues, the reporter interviewed experts in respiratory and critical care medicine.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is easy to cross-infection, and adults can also get it

Mr. Yang, a 32-year-old man from Yuelu District, was waiting for a consultation at the respiratory specialist department of Hunan Aerospace Hospital yesterday. The reporter heard him narrate: “My child was infected with mycoplasma pneumonia. I took care of him in the hospital for a few days. Now he has started to have a fever. I thought he had pneumonia.” Mycoplasma infection only occurs in children. I didn’t expect that I would be infected.” “It’s the same in our family. First, my little baby in kindergarten had a fever and cough. He came to the hospital and was diagnosed with mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. This is not cured yet. The old man had asthma and was also infected. Now his difficulty in breathing worsened and he was hospitalized…”

During this period, Hunan Aerospace Hospital’s respiratory department, fever clinic and other clinics received many similar cases of parents, grandparents, and grandparents who presented with fever, cough and other discomforts, and were eventually diagnosed with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

Mr. Wu, 52 years old, suffered from repeated high fever of 40°C without cough or sputum. He took ibuprofen at home to reduce the fever, but the fever symptoms recurred. After a few days, he went to see a doctor. The test found that he had respiratory failure and a serious lung infection. When I went to the hospital, mycoplasma nucleic acid and antibodies were tested positive, and I was diagnosed with mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. After the doctor gave moxifloxacin as an anti-infection and combined with methylprednisolone as an anti-inflammatory and other treatments, Mr. Wu’s condition was under control.

Zhou Zhiping, director and chief physician of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at Hunan Aerospace Hospital, said that Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is coming fiercely this winter. In addition to the high incidence in children, adults should not be underestimated and need to be vigilant about cross-infection.

The reason for this year’s intensive epidemic is related to various factors

Zhou Zhiping introduced that Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a microorganism different from bacteria and viruses. It generally occurs every 3 to 5 years, and is usually more common in the cold season, but it may occur throughout the year. Due to the general lack of immune barriers in the population, it is the main reason for the sharp increase in the number of people infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae in recent times.

The transmission route of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is mainly through droplets in the air. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, people around him may inhale the infected Mycoplasma. Additionally, contact with infected surfaces or items may lead to spread.

In the past few years, due to the COVID-19 epidemic, everyone wore masks, which better cut off the transmission route of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. This year, we took off our masks and returned to normal study, life, and work. With the increase in some intensive activities, the prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection became stronger and the infection rate increased, resulting in this year’s intensive epidemic. Moreover, this year’s Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection has a trend of younger people and higher drug resistance rates. Conventional anti-infective drugs are ineffective, prolong the course of the disease, increase the probability of severe illness, and are more likely to cause cross-infection, leading to an increase in the number of sick people, such as adults.

The main symptoms of the disease include fever, cough, sputum production, difficulty breathing, chest pain, etc. Some patients may also experience symptoms such as general malaise, fatigue, and loss of appetite. In children, Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection may also manifest as respiratory symptoms and gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhea. The initial symptoms may be mild and not typical enough, making it easy for people to ignore them and delay treatment. After symptoms appear, you need to go to the hospital for diagnosis in time, especially adults with underlying diseases such as diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They need to be treated as early as possible to avoid serious illness.

At present, the commonly used diagnostic methods for Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection include: serum Mycoplasma antibody and Mycoplasma nucleic acid testing. Once the test result is positive and there are symptoms of respiratory infection, immediate treatment is required.

Are the treatments for children and adults the same?

In recent clinical practice, many patients have always consulted doctors. Are the treatments and medications for children and adults the same?

Symptoms caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, influenza virus, new coronavirus, etc. are similar. Zhou Zhiping recommends that everyone should first diagnose the pathogen and never self-medicate at home. In the face of this year’s Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporin are basically ineffective against Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Some parents give azithromycin to children with symptoms such as cough and fever. This practice is not advisable. Generally speaking, viruses are still the most common pathogens of respiratory infections in children, including influenza virus, rhinovirus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. etc., while azithromycin is ineffective against viral infections, and its abuse is detrimental to the healthy development of children. In addition, off-label medication must be used under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.

For adults, quinolones and tetracyclines are usually the first choice for treatment, such as common moxifloxacin, levofloxacin and other drugs, which are generally effective. However, people with underlying diseases and low immunity need to be alert to the occurrence of severe pneumonia and serious complications. If severe symptoms such as persistent high fever, wheezing, and shortness of breath occur, anti-mycoplasma drugs alone are not enough. They need to be combined with hormones and other comprehensive treatment.

Of course, preventing Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is the most important. The probability of infection is greater in confined spaces and crowded places. Paying attention to personal protection is the main way to prevent it. Zhou Zhiping suggested that first, we should pay attention to personal hygiene, wash hands frequently, and pay attention to cough etiquette; second, we should improve our immunity through good work and rest, balanced nutrition, and regular exercise; third, we should pay attention to protection and try to avoid going to crowded places. Patients infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae need to wear masks.

In short, Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is not only a problem for children, adults can also be infected. Symptoms and risk factors for infection in adults are similar to those in children, and adults with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to infection. Seeking medical advice promptly, following medical advice, and actively taking preventive measures are the keys to dealing with mycoplasma pneumonia in adults.

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Traditional Chinese medicine has unique characteristics in treating infectious diseases

In addition to oral traditional Chinese medicine, external application of traditional Chinese medicine and professional pediatric massage can relieve symptoms.

Changsha Evening News, November 14 (All-media reporter Yang Weiran, correspondent Di Wenwen and Liu Dan) “According to incomplete statistics, since the autumn and winter, the positive rate of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in southern cities has begun to rise, and it has now increased from 7% in June to More than 10%, a small peak of infection has arrived.” On November 14, when the reporter interviewed Zhan Hongyan, deputy director of pediatrics and chief physician of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), she said that many parents have experienced Mycoplasma pneumoniae in their children. Worry about infection, in fact, Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is preventable and controllable, so parents don’t need to worry too much.

It should be noted that due to the obvious mutation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and the emergence of drug-resistant strains, macrolide drugs such as azithromycin often do not achieve the desired effect. Traditional Chinese medicine has unique characteristics in treating infectious diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine has the functions of anti-infection, regulating immunity, improving microcirculation, repairing lung tissue damage, etc. It can prevent and treat infectious diseases from a holistic perspective, effectively shorten the course of the disease, and quickly relieve severe coughing in children. symptoms.

Currently, clinically, the combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine is used to treat Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. In addition to oral Chinese medicine, topical Chinese medicine application, and professional pediatric massage, it can greatly alleviate the symptoms of frequent cough and fever in children, and it can also be used during the recovery period of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. , can quickly improve the immunity of children and promote the body’s recovery.

Many parents have asked how long it will take for their children to turn negative after being infected. Zhan Hongyan said that this has a lot to do with the individual differences of each child, and it usually takes 3 to 6 months. Therefore, parents are reminded that there is no need to frequently review mycoplasma antibodies in the short term, as long as the child’s symptoms are effectively alleviated and improved.

In terms of prevention, the most effective and economical way is to get vaccinated. Influenza vaccination can effectively reduce the risk of infection, illness and severe illness. During the peak period of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, take your children less often to relatively closed playgrounds, movie theaters and other places; wear masks when entering and leaving public places; open windows regularly every day at home to maintain indoor air circulation; take your children more outdoors when the sun is sufficient Exercise to improve respiratory function; children drink more warm water, eat a balanced diet of cold and hot foods, mainly easy-to-digest, warm and nutritious foods, and eat less spicy, sweet and greasy foods.

source:changsha evening news

(First trial: Jiang Jun Second trial: Wang Yaqi Third trial: Yu Zhenhua)