Health professionals in select regions of Massachusetts and Ohio are noting an alarming increase in pediatric pneumonia cases, mirroring similar trends observed in China and parts of Europe. Particularly in Warren County, Ohio, located near Cincinnati, there has been a significant rise in incidents of what’s being referred to as ‘white lung syndrome’. Since August, the county has reported 142 cases in children, a number that local health authorities deem exceptionally high.
Officials from the Warren County Health Department, in a recent announcement, confirmed that the surge in cases aligns with the criteria for an outbreak as defined by the Ohio Department of Health. This development has heightened concerns about a potential widespread outbreak in the United States similar to what is currently affecting China.
In western Massachusetts, doctors are reporting an influx of walking pneumonia cases, a less severe form of the condition, largely caused by a combination of bacterial and viral infections. According to medical experts, these outbreaks are not linked to any novel pathogen, but rather a confluence of several seasonal bacteria and viruses.
The county’s health department emphasized that this increase in pneumonia cases does not signal a new respiratory disease but rather an unusual spike in the number of cases typically seen. The health department also stressed the importance of preventive measures such as hand washing, covering coughs, staying home when sick, and staying updated on vaccinations, especially as the holiday season approaches.
In Ohio, investigations have revealed that affected patients have tested positive for a variety of pathogens, including mycoplasma pneumoniae, adenovirus, and strep. These findings coincide with observations that children’s immunity might have been weakened due to pandemic-related measures like lockdowns and school closures, making them more susceptible to seasonal illnesses.
Dr. John Kelley, from Redwood Pediatrics in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, noted that many children with walking pneumonia are developing the condition following an initial infection with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). The situation in Massachusetts is largely attributed to RSV, a common respiratory virus particularly dangerous for young children and the elderly.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University, pointed out the cyclical nature of mycoplasma infections and suggested that what’s occurring globally might be a part of this cycle. He mentioned that China, experiencing its first winter without pandemic restrictions, is facing surges in various respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, flu, RSV, and mycoplasma.
Dr. Scott Roberts from the Yale School of Medicine indicated that the increased incidence of pneumonia might be due to weakened immunity in children, a consequence of reduced exposure to infections during the pandemic. This scenario echoes the situation in countries like the Netherlands and Denmark, which are also reporting unusual increases in pneumonia cases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been monitoring the situation but maintains that, on a national level, nothing out of the ordinary has been observed in childhood pneumonia cases. Nevertheless, the CDC is under congressional pressure to disclose all information regarding the pneumonia outbreak in China.