Need To Be Aware Of Pneumonia Due To Mycoplasma Pneumoniae In Children In Indonesia

JAKARTA - In early November 2023, China reported an increase in the number of patients with respiratory tract infections. At the end of November 2023, it was reported that there was a cluster with undiagnostic pneumonia' in children in North China, which was not yet clear whether this incident was related to an increase in cases of respiratory system infection previously reported, or was a separate incident.

The report from China identified several bacteria and the cause of the virus, namely Mycoplasma Pneumoniae, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS COV-2, but there was no information regarding the severity of the disease and the mortality rate from the disease.

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs that is a disease that is often encountered in children, and is the most common cause of death in children under five around the world, including in Indonesia. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria or viruses of many types.

pneumonia-causing bacteria include Streptococcus pneumonia, Hemophyllus influenza, Mycoplasma pneumonia, and others; while pneumonia-causing viruses include RSV, influenza, adenovirus, SARS-CoV-2, rhinovirus, and others. Symptoms of pneumonia are usually preceded by symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in the form of fever, cough and runny nose for 3-5 days, followed by shortness of breath (fast breathing).

Pneumonia can be prevented and treatable. Healthy clean living behavior, including the habit of washing hands and wearing masks, providing exclusive breast milk, high-dose vitamin A, nutrition with balanced nutrition, and complete vaccination are several efforts to prevent pneumonia in infants and children. The doctor's administration of appropriate and rational antibiotics is an effective treatment for children with pneumonia caused by bacteria.

Dr. Rina Triasih, M.Med (Pead), Ph.D, Sp.A (K), Head of the IDAI Respirology Coordination Unit, Mycoplasma pneumonia is one of the bacteria that causes pneumonia in children who have long been known in the medical world. These bacteria mainly attack school-age children (above 5 years old).

Symptoms of pneumonia due to Mycopplasma pneumonia are the same as symptoms of pneumonia in general, and usually the symptoms are milder. In children with declining durability can cause severe conditions. The time it takes to cause symptoms since germs enter the body is quite long, not as fast as the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

Chairman of the Central Board of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), Dr Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, SpA(K) said that currently there is no official data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, and the tracking of pneumonia-causing germs (except for influenza viruses) in children in Indonesia has not been routinely carried out, so there is no definite data on whether there is an increase in the number of pneumonia cases due to Mycopplasma pneumonia in children in Indonesia.

However, the Indonesian Pediatrician Association emphasized the following things:

-Although the increase in the number of cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia in China is information that needs to be observed, watched out for, and followed up, but there is no need to cause panic in the community.

-Surveillance of respiratory system infections in children (including pneumonia) in Indonesia needs to be further improved, including improving facilities from the government for the procurement of examination facilities to find out germs that cause pneumonia in children, including Streptococcus pneumonia, RSV, Mycoplasma pneumonia, and others.

Hospitals, clinics and health centers in Indonesia need to analyze data on the number of patients/visitors and deaths due to respiratory infection/pneumonia from time to time, both inpatients, outpatients, and emergency hospital installations, so that they can be reported and done early anticipation if found a significant increase in the number of cases.

-Mycoplasma pneumonia is not a new germ, and pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumonia usually causes mild pneumonia symptoms that can be treated with antibiotics.

- The public needs to improve clean and healthy lifestyle, including the habit of washing hands and wearing masks.

- Exclusive breastfeeding, complete vaccination and high doses of vitamin A are essential to prevent infants and children from pneumonia