OHIO, USA — Ohio is the first state in the nation to report an outbreak of pediatric pneumonia cases.
In Warren County, just north of Cincinnati, health officials have declared an outbreak of pneumonia cases in children. They say 145 kids between the ages of 3 and 14 have been diagnosed with the respiratory infection since August.
The Ohio Department of Health said that the pathogens identified in Warren County are fairly common. They added that at this point, there is no evidence of a new or emerging respiratory pathogen.
The CDC also reports that respiratory virus activity across Ohio is minimal.
What causes pneumonia?
You can develop pneumonia when your immune system attacks an infection in the small sacs of your lung, causing your lungs to swell and leak fluids.
The Cleveland Clinic says bacteria are the most common cause in adults while viruses are the most common cause of school-aged children. People can develop pneumonia from the common illnesses, like:
- Common cold
- COVID-19
- Influenza
- Human metapneumovirus (HMPV)
- Human parainfluenza (HPIV)
- Legionnaires’ disease
- Mycoplasma pneumonia bacteria
- Pneumococcal disease
- Pneumocystis pneumonia
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
What are the symptoms?
The Cleveland Clinic says the most common symptoms of pneumonia among young people are:
- Fever, chills, general discomfort, sweating/flushed skin
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Lack of energy
- Restlessness or fussiness
Some signs you can look for in babies and young children include:
- Grunting sound with breathing or noisy breathing
- A decreased amount of pee or diapers that are less wet
- Pale skin
- Limpness
- Crying more than usual
- Difficulty feeding
What’s causing the outbreak?
Ohio health officials say they are working with the state Department of Health and area children’s hospitals to determine a cause for the outbreak.
Health officials have assured families that the rise in cases is not believed to be from a novel/new respiratory disease. Rather, it’s currently a large uptick in the number of pneumonia cases normally seen at one time.
The World Health Organization is investigating pneumonia cases in China and Denmark. Cases have also been reported in Massachusetts.
Health officials added that there is currently no evidence that the outbreak is connected to other outbreaks happening statewide, nationally or internationally.
Doctors have recovered three pathogens: Mycoplasma pneumoniae, streptococcus pnuemoniae and adenovirus.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae, what some are calling "white lung syndrome," is a small bacteria that can cause a lung infection. Streptococcus can lead to strep throat and adenovirus is responsible for the common cold and pink eye.
What doctors say you should do
Gounder says to keep your child from getting a more serious lung infection like pneumonia, it is best to give kids shots against viruses like the flu, COVID-19 and RSV.
“These tools are important because while these viruses may not kill children and infants, they do leave these kids more vulnerable to both pneumonia as well as bacteria pneumonia and that can be prevented through the vaccination or through the RSV shots.”
Doctors say in most cases, bacterial pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics and doesn’t require hospitalization. And while some communities are seeing an uptick in cases, remember we are in the midst of cold and flu season.
As families gather for the holidays, doctors are reminding them to take the necessary precautions to protect their health, such as washing your hands, covering your mouth when you cough and staying home if you’re not feeling well.