What is ‘white lung’ pneumonia? What caused its outbreak in China, here is what we know

After hospitals in northern China and Beijing admitted thousands of children with respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia, the doctors suggested the outbreak may have been partly driven by bugs resistant to antibiotics. It was feared that a new pathogen could be behind the large numbers of ill children. But the tests confirmed that those people suffered from seasonal respiratory illnesses like bacterial infections, flu, respiratory syncytial virus, and colds.

'White lung' pneumonia

The disease was named 'white lung' pneumonia because children suffering from the pneumonia had white patches on their lungs. The patches showed areas with denser lung tissue, which can occur when the body fights infections with bacteria like Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Bacteria resistant to antibiotics

Later, medical experts suggested antibiotic resistance bacteria might have caused the surge in mycoplasma pneumoniae infections. According to research, published in the journal 'Frontiers in Microbiology', 90% of infections with this bacterium are now resistant to common antibiotics in China.


Doctors say that when antibiotics are used to target bacterial infections, some bacteria may mutate and become resistant to the drugs' effects. These bacteria can multiply rapidly and develop a resistant strain.

Dr. Yin Yudong, an infectious disease doctor at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, told journalists,"We have to take various measures to curb antibiotic drug resistance. Otherwise, we risk having no treatments for children."

Spike in infection in China

Earlier, doctors have apprehended that China's spike in infections could be due to lifting Covid restrictions. CNN wellness medical expert Dr Leana Wen said that China lifted its mitigation measures later than most other countries and this could be the reason behind the current spike. She said in the first full winter since ending 'zero Covid' they would experience a rise in respiratory illnesses like that which much of the world experienced.

She told 'The Express' that when mitigation measures were lifted, contagious illnesses tore through schools and daycares, leading to a surge in infections among children.

FAQs:

Why was the recent outbreak in China called 'white lung' pneumonia?
The disease was named "white lung" pneumonia because children suffering from the pneumonia had white patches on their lungs. The patches showed areas with denser lung tissue, which can occur when the body fights infections with bacteria like Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

How do drug-resistant bacteria develop?
When antibiotics are used to target bacterial infections, some bacteria may mutate and become resistant to the drugs' effects. These bacteria can multiply rapidly and develop a resistant strain.