Mycoplasma pneumonia cases hit record high in Japan

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

A bacterial respiratory infection called mycoplasma pneumonia. It spreads by physical contact and droplets, causing symptoms like weariness, fever, and chronic coughing. The likelihood of infection is higher in children.

Some patients suffering from severe pneumonia symptoms or weakness caused by fever may require hospitalization. In rare cases, it can lead to conditions such as encephalitis, a brain inflammation.

Health officials told NHK that the number of Mycoplasma pneumonia patients has been gradually rising in Japan since around June.

The officials said that during the seven days leading up to September 29, an average of 1.64 cases per institution were reported.

The figure was higher than 1.61 cases reported during a major outbreak in October 2016. This year's number was also the highest since data-taking began in 1999.

The officials said there could be an increase in patients as Mycoplasma pneumonia tends to surge from fall to winter.

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

There is no vaccine to prevent Mycoplasma pneumonia. Symptoms of infected patients usually improve with antibiotic treatment.

However, according to a pediatric and internal medicine clinic in Tokyo, patients have already developed resistance to antibiotics. The clinic said it has diagnosed 83 patients since April 2 this year, and 13 of them have acquired resistance to antibiotics, which will make treatment even more difficult.

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