‘White Lung’ Pneumonia – What You Must Know

Dec. 7, 2023 – How fearful must you be about outbreaks of “white lung syndrome” pneumonia in youngsters reported in Ohio, Massachusetts, and several other nations in Europe? 

WebMD requested specialists this query, in addition to if the instances are associated to an analogous outbreak in China, what signs are most typical, and what recommendation they’ve for stopping an infection of their households and for stopping additional unfold of this an infection. 

White lung pneumonia isn’t an official medical situation. As an alternative, it’s an indication of pneumonia that exhibits up as white areas on a lung X-ray, and it’d immediate extra testing to see if lung irritation is viral, bacterial, or attributable to publicity to air pollution or chemical compounds. 

We requested Vandana Madhavan, MD, MPH, a pediatric infectious illness knowledgeable at Mass Common for Kids in Boston, and William Schaffner, MD, an infectious illness knowledgeable at Vanderbilt College in Nashville, to share their tackle white lung pneumonia.

Q: How involved ought to we be concerning the instances of ‘white lung’ pneumonia reported in Ohio, Massachusetts, and a few European nations?

Madhavan: ”Be looking out for indicators of dehydration. Youthful youngsters particularly have much less reserve and usually tend to get dehydrated sooner.” Mother and father might put a humidifier in a baby’s bed room or allow them to breathe steam whilst you run a bathe. In older youngsters, honey in a heat drink might be useful. 

Q: Any connection to comparable diseases reported in China?

Schaffner: “There’s been plenty of whoop-de-doo about white lung pneumonia. It began with a report in Northern China that they’d a rise in pneumonia. The Chinese language discovered one thing since COVID – as a result of everyone was afraid that we’d seen this film earlier than.” Chinese language officers met with specialists on the World Well being Group the place Chinese language public well being stated there was no new virus. “This was nothing like COVID. As an alternative, it was an early, seasonal enhance in respiratory infections, together with pneumonia, attributable to a wide range of winter respiratory viruses.”

Q: How extreme are the instances reported in america?

Schaffner: “There’s a spectrum. Plenty of people, children, and older individuals have milder respiratory infections that may be managed at dwelling. However every year, we’ve to hospitalize some youngsters and a few adults as a result of they do have pneumonia and issue respiratory.” Just a few even need to be on a ventilator for a short while, he stated. “The overwhelming majority of oldsters do get higher. That needs to be reassuring.”

Q: Any recommendation on steps mother and father can take to guard their youngsters and stop additional unfold of this sickness?

Madhavan: “Hand-washing, being aware that in case your little one is sick – not going out – and asking if everyone seems to be nicely for those who’re going to a celebration or vacation gathering.” Sporting a masks in crowded public areas might additionally assist, she stated. “Additionally make certain your loved ones is updated on influenza, COVID, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines.” 

Schaffner: “I wish to remind everybody that we’ve some vaccines obtainable.” Vaccines for flu, RSV, and COVID-19 can be found for a lot of, many individuals, he stated. “Past the vaccines, let’s attempt to watch out and keep away from people who find themselves coughing and sneezing. The second factor, which can be robust to do in some households, is that if anybody is sick, don’t ship you little one to day care. They will simply unfold it to everybody else.”