Since the autumn, Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections have increased in children in many places. The reporter visited the pediatric outpatient clinics of major hospitals in Shanghai and found that the number of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections has also increased.
Recently, Lu Yanming, Director of Pediatrics at Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Deputy Leader of the Shanghai Pediatric Respiratory Group, and Dong Xiaoyan, Director of the Respiratory Department of Shanghai Children’s Hospital, answered questions related to the prevention, control and treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children.
Seek medical attention promptly and do not mistake Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection for a common cold
Because Mycoplasma pneumoniae affects both the upper and lower respiratory tracts, when the upper respiratory tract is initially infected, there will be symptoms similar to those of a common cold, such as nasal congestion, sore throat, fever, etc.
"How to distinguish the two is clinically difficult, and it is even more of a problem for parents." Dong Xiaoyan said that if during the Mycoplasma pneumonia epidemic season, school-age children develop symptoms of respiratory tract infections and have persistent fever. Parents should be especially vigilant when symptoms such as symptoms such as cough remission or worsening of cough, as there may be Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. If a child is clearly infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and develops persistent high fever, listlessness, coughing and vomiting, etc., he or she needs to seek medical attention promptly.
Lu Yanming said, "There are many methods for pathogen detection in hospitals. Doctors will comprehensively judge whether the child is infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae based on the test results and clinical symptoms, and give a scientific treatment plan."
Follow your doctor’s advice carefully and avoid blind use of medication
Experts remind that when the child is not sure that he or she is infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, medication should be used with caution. "Especially macrolide antibacterial drugs, they should be used correctly under the guidance of a doctor to avoid increasing the possibility of children developing drug resistance, which will then affect subsequent treatment." Lu Yanming said.
Through recent outpatient observations, Lu Yanming found that some children had almost no relief of symptoms after two or three courses of macrolide antibiotics. Lu Yan said that with the widespread use of this type of drugs in children's respiratory infections, many children have developed "drug resistance."
Regarding the above situation, Lu Yanming said that alternative drugs will be used as appropriate.
Prevention comes first, and adults should not take it lightly
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is mainly spread through respiratory droplets. Dong Xiaoyan said that in daily prevention, we must first ventilate more and avoid gatherings. It is best to open the window for ventilation 2 to 3 times a day at home, for 15 to 20 minutes each time. Recently, Avoid taking children to public places with dense crowds and poor ventilation; secondly, maintain good personal hygiene habits, wash hands frequently, and gargle frequently; finally, carry out moderate physical exercise, maintain adequate sleep, and eat a reasonable diet to comprehensively improve children's health. Immunity and resistance.
Lu Yanming reminded that adults who stay with children infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae for a long time, the chance of being infected should not be underestimated. "Parents should also take personal protection when caring for their children. If an adult develops fever, severe cough, or even lung symptoms, they should go to the adult respiratory department or internal medicine department in time for relevant testing.