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WARREN COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) - A health warning has been issued for parents in parts of Ohio as an extremely high number of pediatric pneumonia cases are being reported, prompting concerns of a potential outbreak.

The Warren County Health District has raised an alarm after identifying a surge in respiratory illnesses among children, predominantly around eight years old, since August. With 142 reported cases of pediatric pneumonia, significantly exceeding the average, health officials are closely monitoring the situation.

Dubbed "white lung" pneumonia, the illness currently remains localized to Southern Ohio, but health experts caution that it could potentially spread beyond the region. Local health officials in Northeast Ohio, including Cuyahoga County, have yet to report any cases and are working diligently to prevent its spread.

Symptoms of pediatric pneumonia include difficulty breathing, a severe cough, and high uncontrollable fever. Parents are urged to seek medical attention if their child exhibits these symptoms for more than five to seven days. Instead of heading to the emergency room, health professionals advise parents to bring their children to pediatricians or family physicians for evaluation.

Dr. Joseph Allen, regional medical director of Premier Health, emphasizes the importance of quick action, stating, "In the example of Warren County, they have not seen any specific patterns that fit together to say that this is an outbreak that is linked."

However, Dr. Prakash Ganesh, medical director for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, points out that people's ability to travel presents a risk of spreading the illness to other areas. He draws connections to the COVID-19 pandemic and stresses the existing surveillance systems in place to closely monitor respiratory illnesses.

While health officials maintain that the pneumonia cases in Southwest Ohio do not indicate a new disease, it has been challenging to distinguish between various respiratory illnesses, including RSV, COVID-19, and the flu. The severity of the illness can range from mild to severe, making it crucial for healthcare professionals to accurately diagnose and treat affected children.

Similar cases of a related illness have also been reported in Massachusetts, with health officials drawing parallels to an outbreak in China and parts of Europe. Continual monitoring and surveillance will be essential to effectively manage and contain the spread of pediatric pneumonia in Ohio.

Parents in Southwest Ohio are urged to remain vigilant, follow precautionary measures, and promptly seek medical attention if their children exhibit symptoms of respiratory illness.