The number of suspected cases of pneumonia in children in China worries the WHO
The World Health Organization asked the Chinese government for information on the overflow of cases of children with undiagnosed pneumonia.
Because cases of undiagnosed pneumonia in children have inexplicably increased in China, which has caused several hospitals to be overcrowded, the World Health Organization (WHO) has formally requested that all corresponding information be shared.
Unlike previous years, some Chinese doctors recognize that the wave of respiratory diseases in minors this year seems to be more serious, as indicated by the long lines of parents demanding to attend to their children in pediatric hospitals.
For the moment, Chinese authorities have attributed the illnesses to known pathogens such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and mycoplasma pneumonia, a common bacteria that cause mild illnesses in children.
However, testimonies have begun to circulate on social networks from people who describe hospitals with insufficient care in the face of the enormous number of children who come with symptoms of pneumonia, without specifying the exact cause of their illness.
In this regard, the WHO issued a statement expressing its concern about the high number of sick infants in China.
Also Read: Research suggests a link between male infertility and autism
“It is unclear whether these are associated with the general increase in respiratory infections previously reported by Chinese authorities, or with separate events,” part of the letter states.
Unlike the information management they shared during the COVID-19 health crisis, Chinese officials have not publicly acknowledged their concerns about unknown pathogens and continue not to respond to the WHO’s request.
A report released by the authorities of Anhui province in China indicates that the increase in sick children who come daily to receive medical attention at a children’s hospital in the area increased the number of bronchoscopies performed daily from 10 to 67.
Many Chinese families are concerned about the inability of their children to be treated in public hospitals because they are overcrowded.
In this situation, they are recommended to seek treatment in smaller clinics or stay at home if their children’s symptoms do not warrant hospitalization.
What is disconcerting is that the National Health Commission has not yet published general statistics on the increase in respiratory diseases in children.
