Epidemic of pneumonia in 2017

At the end of October this year, the mass media began to issue information about outbreaks of mycoplasma pneumonia in some regions of the Russian Federation. Cases of the disease were registered in the Yaroslavl, Novgorod, Vladimir, Tula and Amur regions. The overwhelming number of patients are children who were in schools and kindergartens.

About atypical pneumonia

The disease has a viral origin, but the flu is not isolated from it. It affects mainly the interstitial tissue( therefore it is called acute interstitial pneumonia).The foci are often located along the edges of the lobe, capturing a part of it at the same time.

Differs a little-characterized clinical picture. With the flu-like start: subfebrile temperature, a small cough, often dry, percussion changes usually do not. Auscultation reveals a hard breathing over the lungs, dry wheezes in a small amount and, in some cases, a small number of moist, finely bubbling rales.

Reasons for

Many are interested in the cause of the epidemic, as well as about how dangerous the disease is and whether it is possible to prevent its occurrence. Answers to the questions below.

When the process of inflammation affects the alveoli, that is, the bubbles responsible for gas exchange, you can talk about pneumonia or pneumonia. The main reason for the development of this inflammatory process is an infection that penetrates the lungs through the airways. Fungi, bacteria and viruses can become pathogens of pneumonia. The most common of these are pneumococci, staphylococci, mycoplasmal viruses, haemophilus influenza and influenza.

What is a dangerous epidemic of pneumonia?

Mycoplasma

The Ministry of Health shared information that the majority of patients admitted to medical institutions with symptoms of pathology were diagnosed with mycoplasma. Thus, it can be concluded that the outbreak of the epidemic is caused by mycoplasmal pneumonia. This harmful microorganism is common among Russian citizens. Every fifth case of the occurrence of pneumonia in an acute form is caused precisely by this bacterium.

How does infection occur?

Infection with mycoplasma occurs by airborne droplets. Most pathology occurs in children and adolescents, with the peak incidence occurring in the autumn months. The epidemic of pneumonia in 2017 also did not become an exception to this rule and began in the middle of autumn.

Features of the disease

The disease is called atypical specialists, since its course is different from ordinary pneumonia. The main features of pneumonia caused by mycoplasma are:

1. Long latent period.

2. Manifestations of catarrhal symptoms of a pronounced nature, namely reddening of the throat, runny nose, etc.

3. Severe cough.

4. The rise in body temperature is negligible. Only a week after the onset of the disease, it can greatly increase.

These features can explain why in the early days the disease in the pneumonia epidemic is confused with a simple acute respiratory viral infection. Therefore, children are treated at home, and when prescribed in ARVI treatment does not have a positive therapeutic effect and the patient's condition worsens significantly, they get to the hospital.

So did the pneumonia epidemic in Moscow really start? About this further.

Diagnosis

For the diagnosis of the disease requires special studies, because the symptoms differentiate it from other respiratory pathologies is quite difficult. Patients who are suspected of this type of pneumonia are being sampled for special tests by ELISA.It shows the presence of immunoglobulins against mycoplasmas.

Danger of pneumonia epidemic and prevention

Employees of the epidemiological service of Rospotrebnadzor claim that the epidemic is still out of the question. So far, the number of patients, out-of-hospital patients, that is, those who contracted out-of-stay in medical institutions, for the 9 months of 2017 is below the level recorded last year.

The registered cases of pneumonia development can be written off for the seasonal increase in the incidence of ARVI and the weakening of the immunity of children accompanying this fact. Infection is not excessively dangerous, so patients have nothing to worry about. This variant of pneumonia responds well to antibiotic therapy. The most important thing in this matter is timely treatment to the doctor and absence of self-treatment.

Let's figure out whether there are ways to prevent the pneumonia epidemic in Moscow. Pathogenic microorganisms do not enter directly into the lungs. At the first stage, they affect the bronchi, throat, nose and trachea. It is in these organs that the process of inflammation begins. If the human immunity is strong enough, and he can resist the causative agent, then the infection does not develop beyond the above mentioned organs. The main thing in this case is to timely support the body's immune system.

Recommendations

For this, the following general recommendations should be observed:

1. Provide the patient with an abundant warm drink. This is necessary in order to dilute sputum and prevent its thickening. Otherwise, the mucus will fall into the lungs. This is especially true for children with high fever.

2. Regularly ventilate the room where the patient is. It is necessary to maintain favorable conditions for the recovery of humidity and air temperature. Dry, stale air and heat only contribute to the development of pathology. The epidemic of pneumonia can be very dangerous.

3. Do not give the patient medications that are aimed at stopping the cough, if such an appointment was not made by the attending physician. This is due to the fact that it is necessary to withdraw phlegm from the bronchi, and this can be done only in the process of coughing.

4. Do not prevent the disease with drugs that are part of the group of antibiotics.

People often ask about the city of the pneumonia epidemic. Healthy people who do not want to face pathology are advised to spend more time outdoors, adhere to a balanced nutrition, wash their hands with soap and try to avoid public places whenever possible.

To prevent epidemics of pneumonia in schools, it is important to comply with the following injunction.

Vaccination

Specialists insist on mandatory vaccination of all family members against influenza. This is due to the fact that the flu is combined with mycoplasmal infection and can cause severe complications in the lungs. The most optimal period for vaccination against influenza is the last two months of autumn.

In general, it turns out that the epidemic of pneumonia was just a rumor spread by the media. However, experts do not rule out the option that the epidemic of pneumonia in 2017 may still begin.