Understanding Mycoplasma Pneumoniae: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Dock. Ministry of Health

JAKARTA – Pediatrician at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Dr. Nastiti Kaswandani emphasized that the fatality rate and severity due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria is lower than the fatality rate due to COVID-19.

“When compared with COVID-19, the severity and mortality (death) due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae tends to be lower, only 0.5 to 2 percent, even for those with comorbidities,” said Dr. Nastiti.

Because of this, pneumonia caused by mycoplasma bacteria is often referred to as walking pneumonia.

This name is because the symptoms tend to be mild so patients do not need to be hospitalized and can simply undergo outpatient treatment.

“The child’s clinical condition is good enough so that he can still carry out activities as usual, so most of the cases can be done outpatiently, the medication is given orally, and the child can recover on his own,” he explained.

On the same occasion, Lung Specialist Doctor at Persahabatan Hospital, Prof. Erlina Burhan said that pneumonia caused by mycoplasma bacteria is actually not a new disease.

The bacteria that cause acute inflammation in the lungs have been discovered for a long time, even since the 1930s.

However, recently it has become a concern and concern for the world because the Mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria is thought to have caused an increase in pneumonia cases in North China and Europe, the majority of which attack children.

Prof. Erlina said that because it is not a new disease, treatment for Mycoplasma pneumoniae is not difficult to find because it can be found at Community Health Centers and can be obtained using BPJS.

“Therefore, people do not need to panic because this disease has been found in Indonesia for a long time,” he said.

Prof. Erlina said that the most important thing now is to implement clean and healthy living behavior (PHBS). According to him, this is the main key to preventing this disease.

Apart from that, according to Prof. Erlina, people also need to follow health procedures as recommended by WHO and the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association (PDPI) to reduce the risk of respiratory disease.

These recommendations include vaccinating especially children, keeping your distance from sick people, not traveling when sick, going to the doctor and getting treatment if needed, wearing a mask, ensuring good quality ventilation and washing your hands regularly.

“We must be alert and apply PHBS and not panic,” he said.

2023-12-07 16:34:17
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