Health Mycoplasma pneumoniae cases spike in Japan

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.

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thomas said:

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

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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.

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