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Source: The post is based on the article “Walking Pneumonia: Why China is facing this major outbreak” published in “Time Of India” on 28th November 2023
Why in the News?
China is facing a significant outbreak of Walking Pneumonia particularly among children.
What is Walking Pneumonia?
| Specifications | Details |
| What is it | It is a milder form of pneumonia. |
| Caused by | Mycoplasma pneumoniae |
| Why is it called Walking Pneumonia | It is called as walking pneumonia because its symptoms are often milder and rarely require hospitalization. |
| Vulnerable Group | It is more prevalent among children, particularly those aged 5 to 15 |
| Transmission | It occurs through airborne droplets from coughing, sneezing or talking or making close contact. |
| Symptoms | Persistent cough, fever, sore throat, headache, runny nose, ear pain, and sometimes chest discomfort due to coughing. |
| Treatment | Treatment typically involves antibiotics to target the specific bacteria causing the infection. |
Why is China facing an outbreak of Walking pneumonia?
1) Immunity Gap among children: Owing to China’s strict lockdown measures during COVID-19, there exists an “immunity gap” in the children.
Note: Immunity gap occurs when children who normally would have been exposed to common viruses like influenza at an early age were isolated from others. This means they never developed immunity to these diseases – and now they are falling ill.
2) Antibiotic Resistance: Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in China have contributed to the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of mycoplasma pneumonia, contributing to the outbreak.
To read more on Antibiotic Resistance, click here
UPSC Syllabus: Diseases in News
