Increase in Hospitalized Patients with Mycoplasma Pneumonia Infection... Incheon City Urges Compliance with Personal Hygiene

83.3% of Hospitalized Patients Aged 1-12 in the 4th Week of November

Incheon City has urged adherence to personal hygiene rules to prevent infection as cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection are increasing nationwide, especially among children and school-age children.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is an acute respiratory infection caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae and is classified as a Category 4 notifiable infectious disease. In Korea, it occurs in cycles every 3 to 4 years, with the highest incidence from late autumn to early spring.

The number of hospitalized patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection reported by sentinel surveillance medical institutions in Incheon increased from 13 in the 4th week of October to 30 in the 4th week of November, with 25 patients aged 1 to 12 years accounting for 83.3% of the total.

In the past month (October 22 to November 25), there were 144 hospitalized patients, which is lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic but higher than last year. The number of hospitalized patients by year during the same period was 141 in 2018, 283 in 2019, 8 in 2020, 24 in 2021, and 8 last year.

Mycoplasma Pneumonia Infection Prevention Guidelines [Provided by Incheon City]

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the most common cause of pneumonia in school-age children over 5 years old. Early symptoms include fever, headache, runny nose, and sore throat, with a cough lasting more than two weeks being a major symptom. Usually, symptoms are mild and do not require hospitalization, typically lasting 3 to 4 weeks before recovery. However, 3 to 13% of cases may progress to pneumonia, making early diagnosis and treatment important.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection can be transmitted through respiratory droplets from respiratory secretions. It can spread easily in child group facilities such as daycare centers, kindergartens, and schools. It is recommended to refrain from attending daycare or school and avoid contact with others if respiratory symptoms such as cough or runny nose are present.

An official from Incheon City stated, "Since there is no preventive vaccine for Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, it is most important to follow personal hygiene rules such as proper handwashing and practicing cough etiquette." They added, "In shared living spaces such as daycare centers and schools, the shared use of utensils and toys should be limited, and respiratory symptoms should be monitored to enable early diagnosis and treatment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.