[Preview of the Weekly] Mycoplasma pneumonia runs rampant, yet widespread nucleic acid testing becomes a shortcoming in diagnosis and treatment (AI Translation)
Listen to the full version
- In the fall and winter of 2023, there was a high incidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, overwhelming hospital departments, especially pediatrics. Despite standard treatments in medical institutions, there are underlying risks that have not been given enough attention.
- A case study details the experience of a father whose daughter showed symptoms of fever and cough and was treated for suspected Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Despite negative initial tests for the infection and treatment with antibiotics like azithromycin, her condition did not improve until she was hospitalized and treated with a different antibiotic regimen.
- The surge in Mycoplasma pneumoniae cases is not limited to Beijing; cities like Shanghai, Wuhan, and Guangzhou also reported increases. The pathogen has been known since 1944 and is common but became particularly prevalent this year due to factors such as cycles of epidemic occurrence every 3-7 years and reduced immunity from COVID-19 prevention measures. There are concerns about overuse of antibiotics leading to resistance, which can increase severe illness risk. Diagnostic methods vary between antibody testing (common but with limitations) and nucleic acid testing (more accurate but less commonly used).
2023年秋冬，支原体肺炎少见高发令医院相关科室应接不暇，儿科尤其紧张。但对于支原体肺炎的诊断和治疗，医疗机构普遍的“标准解法”背后，也潜伏着未受重视的风险因素。
In the autumn and winter of 2023, an uncommon surge in cases of mycoplasma pneumonia has overwhelmed related hospital departments, with pediatrics being particularly strained. However, behind the "standard solution" commonly adopted by medical institutions for the diagnosis and treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia, there are also risk factors that have not received due attention.
10月24日，不满三岁的女儿出现发烧、咳嗽症状后，张明（化名）晚上9点多带孩子前往北京儿童医院小夜门诊，“因为听说支原体感染比较严重”。他预约的号码为1100多号，到达医院时，前面尚有至少500人排队，凌晨1点多才拿药回家。
On October 24, after his daughter, not yet three years old, developed symptoms of fever and coughing, Zhang Ming (pseudonym) took her to the night clinic at Beijing Children's Hospital after 9 p.m., "because I heard that mycoplasma infections were quite serious." He had an appointment number in the 1100s. Upon arrival at the hospital, there were still at least 500 people ahead of him in line. It was after 1 a.m. before he could get medicine and return home.
不想，这只是随后漫长两周的开始。孩子当晚做了肺炎支原体抗体检测，结果呈阴性，胸片显示支气管炎，但肺部未感染。医生未作解释，直接开了阿奇霉素；口服两日后，病情并未缓解。10月26日，张明带女儿第二次去儿童医院门诊检查，医生表示“那不行就给输液吧”。
Little did they know, this was just the beginning of a long two weeks. That night, the child underwent a Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibody test, which came back negative. The chest X-ray showed bronchitis but no lung infection. Without explanation, the doctor prescribed Azithromycin; however, after taking it orally for two days, her condition did not improve. On October 26th, Zhang Ming took his daughter to the pediatric hospital outpatient clinic for a second examination, where the doctor suggested "if that doesn't work, then we should start an IV infusion."
Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook
Sign in with 财新