IWK Health Center sees an increase in cases of walking pneumonia this year

IWK Health Center in Halifax is seeing an increase in Mycoplasma pneumonia cases. Also called walking pneumonia — So far this year.

The latest data from the hospital, which includes numbers through October, shows 161 cases, including 122 in the emergency department and 39 inpatients. In 2023, there were only 11 cases, nine inpatient admissions and two in the emergency department.

This increase is a trend seen in pediatric hospitals in Canada and the United States.

“As we all know, there are natural periodic surges with mycoplasma,” Dr. Emma Burns, director of the IWK's emergency department, said in an interview with CBC News.

“It appears that we are experiencing a natural surge in mycoplasma pneumonia that is historically predictable as well, as it typically peaks every three to seven years.”

Walking pneumonia is generally a mild bacterial infection that primarily affects children and teenagers.

Cases of preschool children

Burns, who has worked at IWK since 2011 and has been director of the emergency department since September, said she and other staff in the department are seeing an increase in cases among younger patients, such as preschoolers.

He said the most common symptoms of walking pneumonia in children are a runny nose, pain and feeling unwell. Children may or may not have a fever, she said. It then progresses to coughing and difficulty breathing.

“And the two ways that people end up in the emergency room is that their breathing gets really bad and they come to us for a respiratory evaluation,” she said.

“Alternatively, some children may have a persistent cough and fever, meaning the fever will not go away and the cough will continue for five to seven days or more.”

It can be diagnosed with a chest X-ray, but doctors in areas without diagnostic imaging equipment can make the diagnosis based on clinical examination and the patient's medical history.

Walking pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics, but antibiotics aren't always necessary, Burns said.

Some people recover without antibiotics

“The reason we got the term 'walking pneumonia' is because some people actually recover on their own without antibiotics, meaning they don't get particularly sick. And if your child is doing well, “The longest he's had a cough is two weeks old, but other than that he's doing well, so he doesn't necessarily need to come in for an evaluation,” Burns said.

Although figures for November and December have not yet been released, Burns said that while the number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections is rising, the number of walking pneumonia cases appears to be stabilizing. He told an anecdote about how it felt like.

“RSV and mycoplasma are very similar clinically and on a chest x-ray, making them more difficult to differentiate. If you don't have RSV and have a chest x-ray, you can tell whether it's pneumonia or not. Now it's a little easier.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority does not specifically track mycoplasma pneumonia, but has confirmed more pneumonia cases so far this year.

Nova Scotia Health Authority sees new cases of pneumonia this year

The health authority's emergency department in the Central Region, which includes Halifax Region, Eastern Shore and West Hants, had 753 pneumonia cases in October, compared to 260 in October 2023.

In an interview with CBC main street halifax In November, Central District emergency room physician Dr. Matthew Clark said on his show that he was seeing cases of pneumonia in all age groups, but added that he was seeing more infections in children and young adults. Pneumonia is usually uncommon. ”

Clark said wearing masks and washing hands when sick can help prevent the spread of the disease.