Health officials in China are investigating a rise in cases of an unknown illness that has resulted in children being hospitalized with pneumonia. While the situation is still unclear, it is believed that these outbreaks are most likely due to a resurgence of common respiratory pathogens following the country's strict coronavirus lockdowns, rather than being the result of a new infection.
Pneumonia is a general term for inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, fever, and chest pain. Most people recover within a few weeks, but vulnerable individuals such as babies, older people, and those with certain health conditions may require hospitalization.
The cases were first seen in Beijing and other areas on November 21, prompting concern about a potential new pandemic. The World Health Organization has requested more information from China regarding these cases.
The main symptom being seen in children in China is fever, with many developing pulmonary nodules, which are small lumps in the lungs. Typically, pulmonary nodules are a result of ongoing or past infections, often bacterial rather than viral. However, the nodules described in China are not typical of the common bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is the main cause of pneumonia in hospitalized children in the US.
Similar outbreaks of pneumonia in children have also been reported in South Korea, all of which are due to Mycoplasma. It is unclear whether these cases are related to the outbreaks in China or if they are separate incidents.
The increase in respiratory infections during winter is normal, and this is China's first winter since its strict lockdowns to prevent COVID-19. As a result, there is a larger number of children who have not been exposed to certain viruses and bacteria before and therefore have no immunity. Additionally, the immunity of individuals previously infected by these pathogens may have faded somewhat, leading to a wave of infections.
While another pandemic is inevitable, it is unlikely that these cases in China will lead to a public health emergency of international concern, according to experts. If the cases were caused by a new pathogen, adults should also be getting ill, which is not the case. A definitive diagnosis is needed to fully understand the situation.