At the end of October this year, the media began to issue information about outbreaks of the epidemic of mycoplasma pneumonia in some regions of the Russian Federation. Cases of the disease were reported in Yaroslavl, Novgorod, Vladimir, Tula and Amur regions. The vast majority of patients are children who were in schools and kindergartens.
About SARS
The disease has a viral origin, but the flu is not isolated from it. It mainly affects the interstitial tissue (therefore, it is called acute interstitial pneumonia). The foci are often located along the edges of the lobe, capture part of it at the same time.
It is characterized by an uncharacteristic clinical picture. With a flu-like onset: low-grade fever, slight cough, often dry, usually no percussion changes. Auscultation reveals harsh breathing over areas of the lungs, dry rales in a small amount and, in some cases, an insignificant number of moist finely bubbling rales.
Causes
Many are interested in the question of the causes of the epidemic, as well as how dangerous the disease is and whether it is possible to prevent its occurrence. Answers to the questions below.
When the process of inflammation affects the alveoli, that is, the vesicles responsible for gas exchange, we can talk about pneumonia or pneumonia. The main reason for the development of this inflammatory process is an infection that penetrates the lungs through the respiratory tract. Fungi, bacteria and viruses can cause pneumonia. The most common of these are pneumococci, staphylococci, mycoplasma viruses, hemophilus influenzae and influenza.
What is the danger of the pneumonia epidemic?
Mycoplasma
The Ministry of Health shared information that most patients admitted to hospitals with symptoms of pathology had mycoplasma. Thus, we can conclude that the outbreak is due to mycoplasma pneumonia. This harmful microorganism is common among Russian citizens. Every fifth case of acute pneumonia is caused by this particular bacterium.
How does infection happen?
Mycoplasma infection occurs by airborne droplets. Most often, pathology occurs in children and adolescents, while the peak incidence occurs in the fall months. The 2017 pneumonia epidemic was no exception to this rule and began in mid-autumn.
Features of the disease
The disease is called atypical, as its course differs from ordinary pneumonia. The main features of pneumonia caused by mycoplasma are:
1. Long latent period.
2. Manifestations of catarrhal symptoms of a pronounced nature, namely, redness of the throat, runny nose, etc.
3. Severe cough.
4. The increase in body temperature slightly. Only a week after the onset of the disease, it can increase significantly.
These features may explain why in the early days of the disease with an epidemic of pneumonia they confuse it with a simple acute respiratory viral infection. Therefore, children are treated at home, and when the treatment prescribed for ARVI does not give a positive therapeutic effect and the patient's condition worsens significantly, they go to the hospital.
So did the pneumonia epidemic really start in Moscow? About it further.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of the disease requires special studies, as it is rather difficult to differentiate it from other respiratory pathologies by symptoms. Patients who suspect this type of pneumonia receive a blood sample for a special ELISA test. It shows the presence of immunoglobulins against mycoplasmas.
Danger of the pneumonia epidemic and prevention
Employees of the epidemiological service of Rospotrebnadzor say that the epidemic is out of the question. So far, the number of sick, community-acquired patients, that is, those who have become infected outside their stay in medical institutions, is lower than the level recorded last year for the period of 9 months of 2017.
Reported cases of pneumonia can be attributed to a seasonal increase in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections and weakened immunity of children accompanying this fact. Infection is not overly dangerous, so patients have nothing to worry about. This type of pneumonia responds well to antibiotic therapy. The most important thing in this matter is a timely visit to a doctor and the lack of self-medication.
Let's see if there are ways to prevent the pneumonia epidemic in Moscow. Pathogens do not directly enter the lungs. At the first stage, they affect the bronchi, throat, nose and trachea. It is in these organs that the process of inflammation begins. If a person's immunity is strong enough, and he can resist the pathogen, then the infection will not develop further than the above organs. The main thing in this case is to timely support the body's immune system.
Recommendations
To do this, observe the following general recommendations:
1. Provide the patient with plenty of warm drink. This is necessary in order to thin the sputum and prevent its thickening. Otherwise, the mucus will sink into the lungs. This rule is especially relevant for children with high fever.
2. Regularly ventilate the room where the patient is. It is necessary to maintain favorable conditions for humidity and air temperature for recovery. Dry, stale air and heat will only contribute to the development of pathology. An epidemic of pneumonia can be very dangerous.
3. You can not give the patient medicines that are aimed at stopping the cough, unless the appointment was made by the attending physician. This is due to the fact that it is necessary to remove sputum from the bronchus, and this can only be done in the process of coughing.
4. You can not carry out the prevention of the disease with drugs included in the group of antibiotics.
People often ask about which city has the pneumonia epidemic. Healthy people who do not want to face pathology are advised to spend more time in the fresh air, stick to a balanced, nutritious diet, wash their hands more often with soap and try to avoid public places whenever possible.
In order to prevent an epidemic of pneumonia in schools, it is important to comply with the following prescription.
Vaccination
Specialists insist on compulsory vaccination of all family members against influenza. This is due to the fact that the flu is combined with mycoplasma infection and can cause severe complications in the lungs. The most optimal period for influenza vaccination is the last two months of autumn.
In general, it turns out that the pneumonia epidemic turned out to be just a rumor spread by the media. However, experts do not exclude the option that the 2017 pneumonia epidemic may still begin.