S.

Recent data indicates an alarming rise in "walking pneumonia" or "white lung pneumonia" cases among young children, especially those aged 2 to 4 years old. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this increase mirrors a significant surge of the illness that overwhelmed hospitals overseas last year. The illness, triggered by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae, has seen nearly 7% of emergency room visits by young children attributed to it as of late September, though this figure has slightly decreased from a peak of over 10% in August.

"Since late spring, the number of infections caused by M. pneumoniae has been increasing, especially among young children," the CDC stated. Historically, this infection has been more common among school-age children, making the current trend among the younger age group particularly notable.

The CDC's figures emerge from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program, analyzing data from emergency rooms. Correspondingly, BioFire Diagnostics, a testing company, has observed trends that are more than 14 times higher than the same period last year. The worst-hit regions currently span from Texas to Iowa, and multiple states are advising doctors about the uptick in Mycoplasma pneumoniae cases.

In Wisconsin, the health department has reported a rise in "unusual pneumonia cases" amongst children and young adults, while Illinois health officials have also tracked several outbreaks in schools. Hospitals have noted an increase in pneumonia cases in children, related not just to Mycoplasma pneumoniae but also to other viruses such as rhinovirus and enterovirus. These viruses, often responsible for common colds, can sometimes lead to more severe illnesses.

Rhinovirus and enterovirus trends reported to the CDC have intensified recently, approaching levels seen during previous fall peaks. Health experts, like those from Virginia-based VCU Health, warn that the situation might worsen due to rising pollen and mold counts, colder weather forcing indoor gatherings, and the upcoming holiday season.

However, the surge isn't uniform across the country. For instance, despite Pennsylvania's health department alerting about high cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, some health systems within the state have not yet experienced a significant spike. Dr. Marian Michaels from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, who co-authored a CDC report earlier this year, notes, "The numbers are perhaps increasing a bit but are still below the pre-pandemic levels for now." Dr. Michaels emphasizes it is still "too early to tell for sure" if this year's wave will result in an unusual increase in hospitalizations.