The “mysterious virus” spreading among children in China has already reached Russia. The first cases of infection with mycoplasma pneumonia were registered in Russia. In China, the disease is more common among children, mainly in preschool and elementary school. Mycoplasma is a dangerous type of pneumonia.
Publika.az news pulmonologist Maksim Novikov told “Lenta.ru” about this.
Novikov said that mycoplasmas occupy an intermediate position between viruses and bacteria, they can reproduce only in human cells. Due to their characteristics, mycoplasmas cause atypical pneumonia that is not always immediately diagnosed.
“At first, the picture of the disease is similar to acute respiratory viral infection. The patient has a stuffy nose, throat discomfort, cough, a slight increase in temperature and intoxication. A cold may also appear.
If the blood test reveals an infection, doctors will prescribe first-line antibiotics, which are used to treat mild to moderate infections. If the patient does not feel better within three days, the treatment strategy should be changed. The doctor recommends second-line antibiotics – macrolides and respiratory fluoroquinolones. They can specifically fight SARS,” the pulmonologist said.
Novikov said that the infection mainly spreads in large groups. Therefore, according to him, children going to kindergarten and school are at risk. If a child has the first symptoms of the disease, there is no need to send him to kindergarten or school. The specialist recommended that the contact of grandparents with sick children should also be temporarily prohibited.
“The methods of protection and prevention of SARS are the same as for acute respiratory viral infection and influenza. Since the infection is transmitted by air droplets, it is necessary to ventilate the room several times a day and perform wet cleaning more often using disinfectants. “Sick children and adults should wear a mask if they need to leave the house urgently during illness,” the doctor noted.
