Dec. 7, 2023 – How frightened must you be about outbreaks of “white lung syndrome” pneumonia in kids reported in Ohio, Massachusetts, and a number of other international locations in Europe?
WebMD requested consultants this query, in addition to if the circumstances are associated to an identical outbreak in China, what signs are most typical, and what recommendation they’ve for stopping an infection of their households and for stopping additional unfold of this an infection.
White lung pneumonia will not be an official medical situation. As an alternative, it’s an indication of pneumonia that exhibits up as white areas on a lung X-ray, and it would immediate extra testing to see if lung irritation is viral, bacterial, or brought on by publicity to air pollution or chemical compounds.
We requested Vandana Madhavan, MD, MPH, a pediatric infectious illness knowledgeable at Mass Normal for Youngsters in Boston, and William Schaffner, MD, an infectious illness knowledgeable at Vanderbilt College in Nashville, to share their tackle white lung pneumonia.
Q: How involved ought to we be concerning the circumstances of ‘white lung’ pneumonia reported in Ohio, Massachusetts, and a few European international locations?
Madhavan: “We’re seeing extra respiratory infections which might be circulating as a result of it is December and we’re in North America and the Northern Hemisphere. Is that this a pure seasonal spike? It’s onerous to know, however proper now we’re not seeing numbers of any explicit virus or bacterial an infection at such ranges which might be regarding.”
Schaffner: “Comparable issues have been seen in Denmark, the Netherlands, and right here in the USA. This isn’t a shock. This number of respiratory viruses and mycoplasma micro organism which might be circulating are quite common. A few of them get down deeper into your chest and trigger pneumonia.”
Q: What are the principle signs, and do they differ from different respiratory infections?
Schaffner: “There are signs that contain the higher respiratory tract, like stuffy nostril, runny nostril, sore throat, and cough, if the virus will get down into the bronchial tubes. If the virus or the micro organism will get out into the substance of the lungs, it will possibly trigger issue respiratory, or create sputum that you just’re citing that instantly appears greenish or is streaked with blood. If any of these issues occur, in case you have any issue respiratory, when you develop a excessive fever, you might properly have pneumonia. Please contact your well being care supplier immediately.
Madhavan: ”Be looking out for indicators of dehydration. Youthful kids particularly have much less reserve and usually tend to get dehydrated quicker.” Dad and mom may put a humidifier in a baby’s bed room or allow them to breathe steam when you run a bathe. In older kids, honey in a heat drink may be useful.
Q: Any connection to related diseases reported in China?
Schaffner: “There’s been a number of whoop-de-doo about white lung pneumonia. It began with a report in Northern China that that they had a rise in pneumonia. The Chinese language discovered one thing since COVID – as a result of all people was afraid that we’d seen this film earlier than.” Chinese language officers met with consultants on the World Well being Group the place Chinese language public well being mentioned there was no new virus. “This was nothing like COVID. As an alternative, it was an early, seasonal enhance in respiratory infections, together with pneumonia, brought on by quite a lot of winter respiratory viruses.”
Q: How extreme are the circumstances reported in the USA?
Schaffner: “There’s a spectrum. Quite a lot of people, youngsters, and older individuals have milder respiratory infections that may be managed at residence. However annually, we have now to hospitalize some kids and a few adults as a result of they do have pneumonia and issue respiratory.” A couple of even must be on a ventilator for a short while, he mentioned. “The overwhelming majority of parents do get higher. That must be reassuring.”
Q: Any recommendation on steps dad and mom can take to guard their kids and forestall additional unfold of this sickness?
Madhavan: “Hand-washing, being aware that in case your baby is sick – not going out – and asking if everyone seems to be properly when you’re going to a celebration or vacation gathering.” Sporting a masks in crowded public areas may additionally assist, she mentioned. “Additionally make certain your loved ones is updated on influenza, COVID, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines.”
Schaffner: “I want to remind everybody that we have now some vaccines obtainable.” Vaccines for flu, RSV, and COVID-19 can be found for a lot of, many individuals, he mentioned. “Past the vaccines, let’s attempt to watch out and keep away from people who find themselves coughing and sneezing. The second factor, which can be robust to do in some households, is that if anybody is sick, don’t ship you baby to day care. They’ll simply unfold it to everybody else.”
