The outbreak of the acute respiratory infection ‘Mycoplasma pneumonia’ is alarming. The number of patients admitted due to infection has more than doubled in the past three weeks. Particularly, children under 12 years old account for about 80% of all hospitalized patients, causing tension in the medical community.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on the 19th, as a result of sample surveillance at 218 hospitals nationwide, the number of patients admitted with Mycoplasma pneumonia infection in the second week of this month (November 5-11) was 226, more than double the 102 in the third week of last month (October 15-21).
From October 15 to November 11, the number of hospitalized patients over four weeks was 627, significantly exceeding the 196 during the same period last year. Most patients were children and adolescents under 12 years old, accounting for over 80%. Based on the second week of this month, 180 (79.6%) of the 226 hospitalized patients were between 1 and 12 years old.
Mycoplasma pneumonia is most common in children aged 5 to 9 years old. It is an acute respiratory infection that can occur throughout the year but tends to become epidemic every 3-4 years in Korea.
The symptoms are similar to common cold symptoms such as fever, headache, and sore throat at the onset of infection. However, while coughing generally lasts about a week, in the case of Mycoplasma pneumonia, symptoms can last up to three weeks.
There is no preventive vaccine, and infection can occur through respiratory droplets such as coughing and sneezing, or direct contact with a patient. Therefore, it is important to practice good hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and indoor ventilation.
Although it generally recovers naturally, it can progress to severe conditions and cause pneumonia. Medical experts recommend early diagnosis and treatment at a clinic or hospital. It is especially necessary for high-risk groups to reduce exposure to crowded environments.
The KDCA recommended, “It is easy to spread in homes where families live together or in group living facilities such as nurseries and dormitories, so if you have respiratory symptoms, it is better to rest at home and refrain from going to school.” They further emphasized, “Since there is no preventive vaccine, compliance with personal hygiene rules is more important than anything else.”
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