A new strain of bacterial pneumonia known as White Lung Syndrome is wreaking havoc on children in China, Denmark, the United States, and the Netherlands. The illness primarily affects children aged three to eight years old.
According to The Metro, ‘White lung syndrome pneumonia’ is caused by mycoplasma pneumonia, a bacterial infection that many antibiotics cannot treat.
The mysterious pneumonia cases in children are reaching ‘epidemic levels’ in Denmark, with chilling parallels to the coronavirus’s origins. The Netherlands has also reported an alarming increase in the number of children with pneumonia, and Sweden is also affected.
Coughing, sneezing, talking, singing, and breathing all transmit the disease, which is carried by minuscule respiratory droplets.
Several regions in Ohio have also been affected by the enigmatic outbreak, making it the first location in the United States to document cases of the illness, particularly with a notably elevated rate of hospitalization among children.
According to US News & World Report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that they have been in contact with China and that the recent increase in respiratory illnesses in the country is not due to a novel pathogen.
“What we know as of right now, today, what’s happening in China is that they are seeing an increase in some of their respiratory illnesses; they’re seeing them in the northern part of their country; they’re seeing an uptick in their pediatric population,” CDC Director Mandy Cohen told a House subcommittee.
“What we do know as of, again, as of today, is that we do not believe this is a new or novel pathogen. We believe this is all existing, meaning COVID, flu, RSV, and mycoplasma. But they are seeing an upsurgence.”
What exactly is White Lung Syndrome?
White Lung Syndrome is a severe form of pneumonia that causes scarring and discoloration of the lungs. The specific cause of the illness is still unknown, but it is believed to be caused by a combination of bacterial, viral, and environmental factors.
Symptoms
Symptoms of White Lung Syndrome include:
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Fatigue
