Massachusetts Reports cases of Child Pneumonia

Massachusetts, now the second U.S. state grappling with a child pneumonia surge, faces a concerning outbreak in pediatric respiratory cases.

As instances of enigmatic pneumonia in children increase globally, Massachusetts has joined as the second state in the US to note a sudden uptick in pneumonia cases among young children. //

Ohio was the first US state that recorded 142 cases of pneumonia in children since August -- above the county average -- amid a mysterious viral outbreak in China. Doctors in the Bay State noticed the rise in cases as Ohio reported enough cases to meet that state’s definition of an outbreak, reports the New York Post.

RSV Surge in the United States

"This is the season for RSV and we’re seeing a whole lot of it … a lot of kids with upper viral respiratory infections, cough, runny nose, some fevers," Dr. John Kelly from Redwood Pediatrics in East Longmeadow told Western Mass News."RSV can cause lower viral respiratory infections, so they get spread to your lungs," the doctor added. ()

Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by a bacteria or a virus. It causes inflammation of the alveoli or the air sacs of the lungs.

TOP INSIGHT

Doctors in western Massachusetts suspect that the predominant cause is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a respiratory illness responsible for claiming the lives of over 10,000 Americans annually. #pneumonia #respiratory #RSV #childhealth

The illness has spread across multiple school districts and the average age of those fallen ill is 8. The US outbreaks come as pneumonia cases in children are unexpectedly surging in the Netherlands at an alarming rate. Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that the recent pneumonia outbreak in China among young children is not caused by any new virus.CDC Director Mandy Cohen said it is related to existing pathogens like Covid, flu, RSV and mycoplasma.

"We believe there is no new or novel pathogen," Cohen said during a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing."These are related to existing pathogens -- Covid, flu, RSV and mycoplasma, a bacterium that can infect the lungs."

The most common symptoms include cough, fever and fatigue. Among the pathogens recovered included Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Streptococcus pnuemoniae and Adenovirus. The health authorities called for taking necessary precautions such as washing hands, and staying home when ill. Separately, the Netherlands and Denmark have also reported cases.

Quiz on Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a serious respiratory tract infection that is often life-threatening in the elderly, children or those with reduced immunity. See how much you know about pneumonia by taking this ...

Reference:

Symptoms and Care of RSV - (https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html)

Source-IANS

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) in Children
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections. RSV infection is usually mild and self-limiting but symptoms may be severe in young children, the elderly and those with a weak immunity.