Health Mycoplasma pneumoniae cases spike in Japan

[thomas]

Health officials are sounding the alarm over a sharp increase in potentially severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections across Japan. In the week ending on 22 September, an average of 1.48 cases per medical institution were reported nationwide, the highest weekly rate in a decade. Fukui prefecture has the highest infection rate, followed by Tokyo, Gifu, Ibaraki , Osaka, and Hiroshima. The respiratory illness spreads through airborne droplets and can cause fever, cough, fatigue, and headache.

The respiratory infection spreads through droplets released into the air by sneezing and coughing, leading to symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue and headache. Coughing can persist for several weeks in some cases. Some patients may experience symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. In rare instances, it can lead to encephalitis, a brain inflammation. While most patients are children aged 14 or younger, cases have also been reported among adults, especially those in their 30s or younger, without underlying health conditions, according to Takeshi Saraya, a professor specializing in infectious diseases at Kyorin University in Tokyo. Saraya advises people to seek medical treatment if they have a severe cough or a prolonged fever, as most Mycoplasma pneumonia patients see improvement in symptoms with antibiotic treatment. Mycoplasma pneumonia epidemics occur in Japan every four to five years, with a significant increase in cases reported in 2012 and 2016.

The health ministry warns that patients have become infected at school and home in many cases. It urges people to wash their hands with soap and wear face masks if they cough.

Mycoplasma pneumonia cases surge across Japan | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Mycoplasma pneumonia cases in Japan hit all-time high | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

NHK has learned the number of Mycoplasma pneumonia cases is surging in Japan with the weekly number of patients per medical institution hitting an all-time high.

www3.nhk.or.jp

 

[dracuella]

I wonder what makes something that has been dormant for four to five years suddenly flare up again? People's resistance to said strain of bacteria has declined enough that it's easy to infect again?
The world of vira and bacteria is a strange and interesting one.

 

[thomas]

The article hints a bit at that phenomenon: during the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries implemented strict measures of infection control and restricted social contacts, thereby keeping all sorts of viruses in check. I just read that cases of syphilis are spiking here, too.

Survey: 1 in 200 pregnant teens in Japan infected with syphilis | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Syphilis cases hit record high for third straight year in Japan

While the precise reasons for the surge in reported cases remain unclear, experts have identified several potential contributing factors.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Rapid resurgence of syphilis in Japan after the COVID-19 pandemic: A descriptive study - PMC

Some countries have reported a post-pandemic resurgence in syphilis prevalence, but trend data in the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region (WHO-WPRO), including Japan, are severely lacking. Thus, the present study compares the number of ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[dracuella]

I just read that cases of syphilis are spiking here, too.

Good grief. I'm SO glad I'm not on the dating market >_>

 

[thomas]

Cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia continue to rise in Japan, with no signs of abating. According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the average number of patients per designated medical institution reached a record high during the week ending 6 October. This marks six consecutive weeks of increasing cases.

By prefecture, Fukui had the highest average with 4.83 cases per institution surveyed. Aichi followed with 4.27 and Aomori with 4.17. The list continued as follows: Osaka with 3.28, Saitama with 3.25, Ibaraki with 2.92, Tokyo with 2.88, Kochi with 2.75, Hyogo with 2.71 and Hiroshima with 2.65.

Mycoplasma pneumonia is a respiratory infection caused by a bacterium. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, and a persistent cough lasting for weeks. While most people recover on their own, some may develop severe pneumonia requiring hospitalization. In rare cases, complications like encephalitis can occur. Antibiotics can help treat Mycoplasma pneumonia. Because the incubation period is two to three weeks, symptoms may appear long after exposure, even when you think the risk has passed.

Mycoplasma pneumonia weekly cases hit a record high | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Masks are back here in Japan. Or perhaps they've never been gone.