What is Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a bacterium that causes lung infections in children?

Just like China, which faces a climb of the number of respiratory diseases, cases of lung infections are also increasing in France. Mainly because of bacteria mycoplasma pneumoniaewhich mainly affects children.

Many cases in middle and high schools

Because from 13 to 19 November 2023, French public health recorded 700 SOS Doctors consultations and 2,150 visits to the emergency room for pneumonia in children under 15 years of age. Figures clearly increasing, higher than those ever recorded since then at least ten yearsreports the HuffPost.

Furthermore, doctors are especially traffic warden As for children aged between 6 and 15, they are more susceptible to mycoplasma infections, because many cases are recorded in primary schools and universities. This contagious pneumonia in everyday lifethrough contact with another sick person, through coughing or sneezing.

Many antibiotics are recommended to treat the infection

But how do we formally make the diagnosis? To do this, PCR tests for mycoplasma exist, but they are only available in hospitals. The attending physician is advised to take an x-ray of the lungs to begin treatment, he advises RTL.

If the vast majority of lung infections are benign and heal spontaneously, some cases may however require hospitalization in the event of pediatric emergencies.

Thus the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM)” ensures strengthened monitoring of the consumption of antibiotics used in winter as part of the fight against drug shortages”reported theFrench media agency. Antibiotics recommended to treat the infection azithromycin, doxycycline or, sometimes, the levofloxacin or the moxifloxacinprescribed by a doctor.

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