Autumn on the move: Atypical pneumonia in children in the focus

Von WOM

autumn time is cold, and in Germany the first signs of respiratory diseases are already clearly noticeable. This year, the view is particularly aimed at atypical pneumonia, which increase especially in children. A main trigger for this are mycoplasms, a specific type of bacteria, some of which are very resistant to conventional antibiotics. This situation makes doctors and experts listen.

With the insertion of cooler temperatures and the long duration of colds, there is a worrying tendency. "These so -called atypical pneumonia cannot be easily diagnosed and can have serious consequences," explains Dr. Dilek önaldi-Gildein, who has observed a striking accumulation of cases in children and adolescents. Symptoms such as high fever and long -lasting cough are common. The University Hospital Erlangen emphasizes that mycoplasm infections are widespread worldwide and, especially in the youngest, often cause tracheobronchitis or atypical pneumonia.

resistant pathogens and their effects

The transmission of mycoplasms is aerogen, i.e. through the air. This means that the infections can quickly spread not only in families, but also in larger groups such as schools and kindergartens. In view of the small size and special properties of mycoplasms, it is often a challenge for treating doctors to find the right treatment path. "Regular antibiotics are usually not effective," explains the general practitioner Nicola Buhlinger-Göpfart. Instead, special antibiotics are required to combat the infection.

However, atypical courses are often evident in this patient population. "The disease is not immediately recognizable, so that the diagnosis is often delayed," said Buhlinger-Köpfart. Concerned parents or teachers must therefore be vigilant and keep an eye on the symptoms.

an increase in cases or panicism?

The current situation ensures different reactions among doctors. While some are talking about Till, a spokesman for the professional association of pediatricians in Baden-Württemberg, about a "wave of illness", Professor Torsten Bauer, President of the German Society for Pneumology, sees the situation rather relaxed. "We warn of panicism," he told the Berlin Morgenpost and emphasized that the current figures would not show significant increase compared to the previous corona years. However, there is no precise surveys in order to comprehensively assess the current trends, since Mykoplasm infections are not subject to reporting and therefore do not have any exact statistics.

Another factor that has been discussed in recent months is the effect of masks during corona pandemic. According to Bauer, the FFP-2 masks also have a protective effect against mycoplasms because they are larger than many viruses. After the mask obligation has been relaxed, respiratory diseases seem to appear again more often.

Interestingly, a current study from 2024 shows that a global increase in mycoplasm infections was found in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the years of Corona pandemic. The researchers promote the hypothesis that herd immunity has decreased through the distance and hygiene measures during pandemic. Such observations, if they come true, could provide important insights into the habituation of the immune system of pathogens.

The reporting on the current health situation must therefore be viewed in a differentiated manner. While some doctors raise the alarm, others are critical of over -dramatization of the situation. It remains to be seen how the number of infection develops and which strategies are taken to combat mycoplasm infections.

Note: The information mentioned in this article does not replace the walk to a doctor. In the event of symptoms, professional medical help should always be used.

For more information on the current developments and reports on Mykoplasm infections, visit the articles on www.merkur.de .