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Increase in cases
Should we be concerned about atypical pneumonia?
Cases of atypical pneumonia are increasing in Quebec. The emergency rooms at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center (CHU) and the Montreal Children's Hospital are seeing more and more young people affected by this infection. Some must be hospitalized. What do you need to know?
Published yesterday at 7:30 p.m.
Marie-Eve Cousineau
MARIE-EVE COUSINEAU
La Presse
What is atypical pneumonia?
It is a respiratory infection caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae . It causes less acute symptoms than those of classic bacterial pneumonia: sore throat, cough, fatigue and fever (rarely high).
It can affect anyone, but currently in Quebec, it mainly affects school-age children and adolescents.
It's called " walking pneumonia ." "People will be able to continue to go to work, to school," says Dr. Jesse Papenburg, a pediatrician and infectious disease microbiologist at the Montreal Children's Hospital. "They don't necessarily need to go to bed."
Symptoms often go away on their own. But an antibiotic may be necessary. Some children need to be hospitalized because they “need oxygen or respiratory support,” Papenburg says . Others develop severe rashes or have “extremely irritated, ulcerated mucous membranes in their mouths.”
The infection can lead to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). “We have had cases,” confirms Dr. Caroline Quach, pediatrician and microbiologist-infectiologist at CHU Sainte-Justine. She specifies that “the vast majority” of patients “recover” after encephalitis.
How can we explain the increase in cases?
Mycoplasma pneumoniae outbreaks occur every three to seven years, according to the experts consulted. In Quebec, cases have been increasing since the spring.
“We’ve been using the PCR test to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae for a little over ten years now , and since September, we’ve reached unprecedented levels,” says Dr. Maude Paquette, pediatrician and microbiologist-infectious disease specialist at CHU Sainte-Justine. “This is really the first peak we’ve seen since the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is not a reportable disease in Quebec. It is also not subject to “specific surveillance” by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) says, however, that it is “closely monitoring the situation” with public network partners. “To date, we have received some signals of increased traffic,” it says in an email.
A monitoring team from the MSSS is also “continuously” monitoring the spread of cases around the world. An increase in infections was recorded in China and France in December 2023. Two weeks ago, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an increase in cases, particularly among young children.
Should we be worried?
No, the experts answer. "But if the fever persists, if things are not going well, if the child is much worse off, if we see that from a neurological point of view, there is something wrong, we will consult," says Dr. Quach , reminding that parents can "trust their judgment."
This explosion of cases does not represent "a public health crisis," Dr. Papenburg is keen to emphasize . But it is worthwhile, according to him, to "raise awareness" among parents and family doctors of this "epidemic of cases."
Diagnosing the disease allows children to benefit from antibiotics that will "reduce the duration of symptoms, probably reduce the infectivity of the affected person," he explains. The antibiotic prescribed is different from that offered for classic bacterial pneumonia.
Can atypical pneumonia be prevented?
No, there is no vaccine for Mycoplasma pneumoniae . According to Dr. Papenburg , children who are coughing “should wear a mask if they are well enough to go to school” to prevent transmission of this infection.
Increase in cases
Should we be concerned about atypical pneumonia?
Cases of atypical pneumonia are increasing in Quebec. The emergency rooms at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center (CHU) and the Montreal Children's Hospital are seeing more and more young people affected by this infection. Some must be hospitalized. What do you need to know?
Published yesterday at 7:30 p.m.
Marie-Eve Cousineau
MARIE-EVE COUSINEAU
La Presse
What is atypical pneumonia?
It is a respiratory infection caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae . It causes less acute symptoms than those of classic bacterial pneumonia: sore throat, cough, fatigue and fever (rarely high).
It can affect anyone, but currently in Quebec, it mainly affects school-age children and adolescents.
It's called " walking pneumonia ." "People will be able to continue to go to work, to school," says Dr. Jesse Papenburg, a pediatrician and infectious disease microbiologist at the Montreal Children's Hospital. "They don't necessarily need to go to bed."
Symptoms often go away on their own. But an antibiotic may be necessary. Some children need to be hospitalized because they “need oxygen or respiratory support,” Papenburg says . Others develop severe rashes or have “extremely irritated, ulcerated mucous membranes in their mouths.”
The infection can lead to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). “We have had cases,” confirms Dr. Caroline Quach, pediatrician and microbiologist-infectiologist at CHU Sainte-Justine. She specifies that “the vast majority” of patients “recover” after encephalitis.
How can we explain the increase in cases?
Mycoplasma pneumoniae outbreaks occur every three to seven years, according to the experts consulted. In Quebec, cases have been increasing since the spring.
“We’ve been using the PCR test to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae for a little over ten years now , and since September, we’ve reached unprecedented levels,” says Dr. Maude Paquette, pediatrician and microbiologist-infectious disease specialist at CHU Sainte-Justine. “This is really the first peak we’ve seen since the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is not a reportable disease in Quebec. It is also not subject to “specific surveillance” by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) says, however, that it is “closely monitoring the situation” with public network partners. “To date, we have received some signals of increased traffic,” it says in an email.
A monitoring team from the MSSS is also “continuously” monitoring the spread of cases around the world. An increase in infections was recorded in China and France in December 2023. Two weeks ago, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an increase in cases, particularly among young children.
Should we be worried?
No, the experts answer. "But if the fever persists, if things are not going well, if the child is much worse off, if we see that from a neurological point of view, there is something wrong, we will consult," says Dr. Quach , reminding that parents can "trust their judgment."
This explosion of cases does not represent "a public health crisis," Dr. Papenburg is keen to emphasize . But it is worthwhile, according to him, to "raise awareness" among parents and family doctors of this "epidemic of cases."
Diagnosing the disease allows children to benefit from antibiotics that will "reduce the duration of symptoms, probably reduce the infectivity of the affected person," he explains. The antibiotic prescribed is different from that offered for classic bacterial pneumonia.
Can atypical pneumonia be prevented?
No, there is no vaccine for Mycoplasma pneumoniae . According to Dr. Papenburg , children who are coughing “should wear a mask if they are well enough to go to school” to prevent transmission of this infection.