The mysterious pneumonia spreading in China has now reached many countries. Patients with symptoms have also been reported in several countries in America and Europe. In the last few days, the number of pneumonia cases has increased in some Asian countries, including India. However, the Ministry of Health says that the cases found in India are cases of normal pneumonia bacteria. These cases have no connection with China. How dangerous is mysterious pneumonia and how alert must you be? What are its symptoms and how can you prevent it? We talked to former Professor Sundeep Mishra of AIIMS, Chairman of Scientific Committee of Delhi Medical Council, Dr Narender Saini, President of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr Sharad Agarwal and Secretary General of Organized Medicine Academic Guild, Dr. Ishwar Gilada on these issues.
Here are the answers to some of your questions:-
Q. Is this pneumonia deadly?
A. In the cases that have been reported so far in the world, pneumonia has not been found to be fatal. If a person is suffering from other diseases then their difficulty can increase. People with respiratory diseases in particular need to be a bit more careful.
Q. What is White Lung Syndrome or White Lung Pneumonia?
A. In this mysterious pneumonia, the lungs appear white on X-ray of the lungs. This is why it is also being called White Lung Pneumonia.
Q. Is pneumonia spreading in China a new disease?
A. No. Chinese authorities have attributed the increase in cases of respiratory diseases to influenza, Mycoplasma pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza viruses. So far, no new disease has been identified, although the World Health Organization (WHO) has asked China, more data on the disease.
Q. What are the reasons for the rapid increase of this pneumonia?
A. Experts believe that due to the social distancing and other measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people did not get exposed to viruses and bacteria that they would normally have been exposed to because people were encouraged to stay at home and avoid close contact with others. This meant that they were less likely to come into contact with viruses and bacteria and that they did not develop immunity to these viruses and bacteria. In normal times, people are exposed to a variety of viruses and bacteria on a regular basis. This exposure helps to build up their immune system and make them less susceptible to these infections.
Q. What are the main symptoms of this disease?
A. In this disease, the patient faces difficulty in breathing. There is a constant pain in the chest and fatigue.There is phlegm and cough in the chest. The patient might cough up yellow or bloody phlegm. There is a mild fever and the patient might feel cold too. Symptoms of memory loss can also be seen in the elderly.
Q. Are children more affected by this disease?
A. According to experts, the immunity system of children aged 3 to 10 is much weaker than those of adults. As a result, they are more susceptible to any bacteria or virus. This is why the effects of this mysterious pneumonia are being seen more in children of this age group. However, the elderly also need to be careful of this disease. Their immunity is also lower than that of young people.
Q. Which virus is causing this pneumonia?
A. According to experts, no specific bacteria or virus has been identified as the cause of pneumonia at the moment. It is normal for cases of pneumonia to increase with the onset of winter. This pneumonia can be caused by any of the following: influenza virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, adenovirus, or RSV virus.
Q. Will a vaccine be needed for this pneumonia?
A. According to health experts, pneumonia is usually treated with antibiotics or antiviral drugs. There are sufficient medicines available for its treatment. So, it doesn’t seem like there will be a need for a specific vaccine to prevent it at this time.
Q. Has WHO issued any guidelines?
A. Yes, WHO has issued guidelines regarding the pneumonia that is spreading in China. It advises people to be vigilant. At the same time, people have been told to maintain cleanliness and contact a doctor immediately if symptoms appear. It has also been asked to maintain social distancing and wear masks.
Q. Is this mysterious pneumonia only in China?
A. No. Cases of mysterious pneumonia have spread to many countries, including the United States and Europe, in addition to China. These include Singapore, Vietnam, Sweden, South Korea, Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Several cases of this pneumonia have also been reported in Ohio County, United States.
Q. What to do to prevent this disease?
A. To prevent this disease, you will need to re-adopt the precautions taken during COVID. You need to maintain social distancing. If there is a person around you suffering from pneumonia, keep a distance from them. Wash your hands regularly and wear a mask. If you have even a mild fever, consult a doctor immediately. Eat a healthy diet and do yoga or exercise to boost your immunity.
Q. Is India taking precautions against the mysterious pneumonia?
A. India has also issued an alert regarding the mysterious pneumonia, along with many other countries. The Ministry of Health has issued an alert regarding the mysterious pneumonia and has directed to monitor it and take constant precautions. However, experts believe that it is a normal pneumonia that occurs in this season, considering the cases that have been found so far.
Q. Does pneumonia require oxygen support?
A. Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes inflammation and fluid buildup in the lungs. This can make it difficult for a patient to breathe. If the infection increases significantly or too much fluid accumulates in the lungs, the patient needs oxygen support.
Q. Has China provided any information about the disease?
A. China has not released much information about the mysterious pneumonia so far. But the Chinese health experts are attributing the cause of children's illness to the lifting of COVID restrictions, influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). However, WHO has asked China for more information about this disease.
Q. Could this mysterious pneumonia become a pandemic?
A. The World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring the disease, but experts are currently considering it to be a normal pneumonia that occurs during this season. According to experts, there is no need to panic about this disease. The President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr. Sharad Agarwal says that a disease that is more contagious is less deadly. In this case, there is no need to panic too much. But be cautious. Especially, Children under 10 years of age, the elderly, and pregnant women need to be more careful.