THE increase in Chinese respiratory illness caught headlines around the world, with cases even being recorded in Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United States.
With the entire world coming out from a three year global pandemic, many have gotten worried over the news, as the spikes of the respiratory illnesses are a combination of normal seasonal surges and the emergence of some populations from COVID-19 lockdowns.
And with China again at the center of the news, it is not surprising that many are worried.
But experts said that this is unlikely to become a pandemic or another reason to close borders, as it is the result of a few predictable, non-worrisome factors.
Walking Pneumonia
Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious disease expert, said that the “walking pneumonia” or mycoplasma pneumoniae is actually “curable” and the infection can be avoided using the still basic ways of following simple public health protocols.
But why is it called “walking pneumonia?”
“Well the nature and the cause of the infection yung mycoplasma pneumoniae is co-mild to the point that a lot of those patients mayroon ganitong klaseng pneumonia are not in a hospital,” Solante said.
“Hindi siya severe at talagang naglalakad lang because the patient is still able to do things, and it is a self-limited type of bacterial infection except in rare cases,” he added.
Such rare cases include sensitive people or those who are really weak.
Among the people who usually succumb to the disease are those with a weak immune system and lives in crowded places.
“Most of the time since a lot of patients will recover but there are population kagaya ng mga bata na less than 5 years and those more than 65 years old ito yung tinatawag na vulnerable population if they will get this type of pneumonia there is possibility that they can go to severe,” he said.
Four cases
Earlier the Department of Health said from January to November, the Philippines was able to record four cases of walking pneumonia.
But they had all been cured and are now healthy.
Solane said that the walking pneumonia or the mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a common pathogen.
It usually brings about coughs and pneumonia.
But simple handwashing and alcohol and wearing of face masks always helps the public avoid getting infected.
“Most of the time the symptoms will only be longer kagaya ng 7 to 10 days and some patients…most of the time we don’t need an antibiotic to this that’s why we called it walking pneumonia its common during this time and this infection in so many years now ngayon lang natin nabigyan ng pansin,” he said.
