INDIANAPOLIS — It’s that time of year again when upper respiratory illnesses are back on the rise. According to recent CDC data, nationwide COVID-19 cases are trending downward while influenza cases are slowly starting to see a slight uptick which doctors say will become worse in the coming weeks and months.
Right now the concern in central Indiana is not COVID-19, the flu, or RSV, but something doctors are referring to as walking pneumonia also known as atypical pneumonia.
“We are seeing a lot of children coming through urgent care centers, doctor offices, including in our emergency rooms, and even admitted into the hospital with severe pneumonia due to mycoplasma,” Dr. John Christenson, the associate medical director of infection prevention at Riley Children’s Health, said. “I have been here 23 years and I have never seen activity of mycoplasma so high before.”
The bacteria is known as mycoplasma pneumoniae which is causing more people to get sick, especially children. It’s the bacteria that causes walking pneumonia. Doctors say a lot of this has to do with kids now in the full swing of the school year. Meanwhile fall trips and vacations will be picking up soon too and the holiday season is right around the corner.
“We hope things are starting to slow down but we have record numbers of positives in our lab,” Dr. Christenson said.
Doctors say only time will tell when will start to see these cases trend downward. On the other hand, they say COVID-19, influenza, and RSV cases are at minimal levels right now but those illnesses will eventually start to pick up again soon too.
“The important thing is that people need to prepare themselves now,” Dr. Christenson said. “Don’t wait until the flu and RSV is here, knocking on the door, start (preparing) now.”
The best thing to do is stay vigilant. Doctors recommend anyone above the age of 6 months old to get vaccinated. It’s also important to practice good hygiene habits.
“The most important thing is hand washing and something that people don’t like to talk much about because they don’t want to talk about it is mask use. If there are a lot of respiratory illnesses in the community, put on a mask, that will protect you against everything,” Dr. Christenson said.
Riley Children’s Health will be hosting a free flu vaccination clinic at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis next month. This will be on Thursday, November 7 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. The clinic is open to anyone six months and older and until supplies run out.
