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Russian region attacked by "latent" pneumonia: schools massively switch to remote learning
The most recent example is the transfer of two schools to remote learning in the city of Langepas, Yugra Okrug, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, due to community-acquired pneumonia. Hygienists are recording an explosion of the disease among children aged 7 to 14. In Krasnoyarsk, at least eight schools have also closed and switched to remote learning, and “quarantine measures” are being introduced in the schools themselves.
In Krasnoyarsk Krai, 10 schools have introduced distance learning and quarantine due to pneumonia. In addition to online classes, quarantine has been declared for students and their families. In addition, the regional administration states that the epidemic thresholds for ARVI and pneumonia have not been exceeded.
But in Yekaterinburg, community-acquired pneumonia is a real invasion. The disease has forced 20 schools across the city to switch to distance learning. The highest concentration of cases is recorded in the Akademichesky district, where five schools have been closed. In the cities, there is caution, if not panic, among parents. The patient's family shares with each other: "The temperature does not reach 40 degrees, there is no swelling, and we cannot say whether it is a virus or pneumonia." Many people observe "flu symptoms" in children, including pain, headache, stiffness and weakness. But this is not the flu.
At a special press conference, the regional Rospotrebnadzor reported that in the Sverdlovsk region, "more than 200 classes have switched to distance learning due to acute respiratory viral infections and pneumonia." In Chelyabinsk, five schools have also been closed due to pneumonia. The Ministry of Health confirmed that the increase in pneumonia cases "is being recorded among children, primarily schoolchildren."
There are no separate statistics on pneumonia in Novosibirsk and nearby regions. Therefore, it is unclear what doctors mean when they talk about “silent” pneumonia, that is, a secret from local authorities or an ambiguous course of the disease. However, it was reported that six schools in the city were completely closed due to quarantine.
In southwestern Siberia, where it got colder earlier than in the east, the following figures were published: In Omsk, six schools switched to distance learning. In Tomsk, schools and kindergartens are “leaving at once.”
Siberian media and doctors attributed the situation to a sharp drop in air temperature, which prevented utility workers from responding. People were freezing in apartments without central heating, making them an easy target for infection.
An increase in community-acquired pneumonia cases was also observed in Kuzbass, in southeastern Siberia. Quarantine and distance learning are being discussed, as well as some “entry filters” for students. Perhaps this will again be a mask regime, disinfectant dispensers and temperature sensors at the entrance. Remember the pandemic. Meanwhile, in kindergartens, schools and universities in Kuzbass, “disinfection modes, air disinfection using ventilation and recirculation devices” are being introduced, the local Ministry of Education reported after a meeting on the local epidemiological situation.
The situation is similar in Izhevsk. The incidence of community-acquired pneumonia has increased sharply among children. The head of Rospotrebnadzor in Udmurtia, Mikhail Trofimov, recalled that the criteria for declaring quarantine for pneumonia are stricter than for influenza and acute respiratory viral infections. If pneumonia is detected and two students fall ill, the class will be closed. And 10 sick people will be the threshold for ending distance learning and quarantining the entire school. Distance learning should last at least 10 days. Please note that at least 20% of the student body should be sick with acute respiratory viral infections. Another sanitary doctor admitted that the increase in pneumonia among children and schoolchildren this year "is occurring against the backdrop of a decrease in acute respiratory viral infections."
"Community-acquired pneumonia is a whole group of diseases that are accompanied by inflammation of the lung tissue, difficulty breathing, usually a very high temperature, often vomiting, chills and tremors," says hygienist Elena Dobazharova. "And the pathogens can be bacteria, most often pneumococci and staphylococci, as well as viruses, fungi and parasites.
However, in the case of some community-acquired pneumonias, the number of which began to grow rapidly last year, it turned out that in 70% of cases the pathogens were microplasma bacteria. Due to their small size, they easily penetrate the body's cells and are very resistant to antibiotics. Such pneumonia often has an ambiguous onset and course, similar to the symptoms of ARVI. Therefore, it is classified as atypical pneumonia. Sometimes there may be an acute onset and course, but this is individual.
Therefore, if the disease occurs nearby, it is necessary to do a chest X-ray, CT or PCR for the pathogen. If the area is still calm, you should pay attention to symptoms such as a non-productive cough lasting more than two weeks, low body temperature, weakness, sweating and low blood saturation. Blood tests for pneumonia show a higher white blood cell count and an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) than with a common ARVI. And, of course, you should also watch for prolonged swelling of the throat, hoarseness of the voice, hoarse intermittent breathing or gurgling sounds when holding your breath and taking deep breaths.
The most common preventive measures for children and adults include fresh air, walking, visiting the pool and physical exercise. Drink more sour fruit drinks, rosehip tincture and include natural immunomodulators honey and ginger in your diet. Of course, do not forget to wash your hands and cover your nose. Hands and nose are the entry points for all infections.