Childhood pneumonia is increasing in France. These cases could be linked to the mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria, which is already prevalent in China.
- Acute lung infections are on the rise among children in France.
- The mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria could be the cause.
- Infection with this bacteria is treated with antibiotic treatment.
More and more children are affected by pneumonia in France. According to monitoring network data OSCOUR, more than 2,150 children under the age of 15 went to the emergency room for an acute lung infection last week. In detail, the figures show an increase of 44.44% among those under two years old and 23.55% among those aged 2 to 14. Among those under 15, emergency room visits linked to this pathology are almost three times more numerous than in the last two years.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae: an explanation for the increase in childhood pneumonia?
For several specialists, this increase could be linked to a bacteria called mycoplasma pneumoniae. “We are seeing its resurgence throughout the Northern Hemisphere. explains Antoine Flahault, director of the Institute of Global Health in Geneva, in an article in the journal The world. “Epidemics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae occur every three to seven years without us knowing very well why.he adds. In China, an increase in cases has already been noted.
For the moment, health authorities are not speaking of an epidemic, but are monitoring the evolution of cases. To do this, PCR tests must be carried out in the hospital. At World, Romain Basmaci, secretary general of the French Pediatric Society, emphasizes that detection of the bacteria does not necessarily mean that it is responsible for the infection. Thus, it is difficult to estimate its share of responsibility in the increase in cases observed. Still in the columns of Worldthe one who is also head of the general pediatrics and pediatric emergencies department at the Louis-Mourier hospital (AP-HP), emphasizes that it is not responsible for all the pneumonias recorded, because a good part of them they would be of viral origin.
Antibiotic resistance: how to treat these lung infections?
But for these different specialists, vigilance is legitimate. The bacteria has long developed resistance to one of the main antibiotics used, amoxicillin, and other treatments are also losing effectiveness. “Macrolides are the first-line treatment, underlines there French Society of Microbiology. Acquired resistance to macrolides is increasing worldwide and currently affects 8 to 10% of strains in France.”
Mycoplasma pneumoniae: what are the symptoms of these lung infections?
The administration of antibiotic treatment helps reduce the risk of complications, even if serious forms are rare. According to the French Society of Microbiology, “In the majority of cases, these infections result in simple tracheobronchitis with dragging cough.. This is particularly true for children and young adults, who represent the majority of cases. Like Covid-19, the disease is transmitted by droplets and prolonged contact with an infected person. To protect yourself, the recommendations are the same: wear a mask if you have symptoms and apply barrier gestures.
