Nothing says Christmas time more than the cold, cuddle-worthy weather. Who wouldn’t want to stay home wrapped in a warm blanket? In the United States and China, however, people see a pneumonia outbreak called the ‘White Lung Syndrome.’ Are we expecting to see another pandemic? Here’s everything you need to know.

What’s White Lung Syndrome?

According to health expert Dr. Payal Kohli, White Lung Syndrome isn’t a medically recognized term, but just another term for pneumonia. Physicians don’t even use this term when treating patients. This syndrome gets its name from the white appearance of infected lungs in an X-ray. 

The recent surge of pneumonia has been attributed to pathogens including the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae, as well as adenovirus. The good news is that pneumonia caused by mycoplasma infection is usually mild and rarely requires hospitalization, according to the New York State Department of Health. Because some people can still carry out their normal day-to-day tasks, it’s also called “walking pneumonia”.

What are the symptoms of White Lung Syndrome or Walking Pneumonia?

Although symptoms vary, the most common signs of walking pneumonia include:

• Sore throat
• Extreme tiredness
• Chest pains
• Headache
• Sneezing
• Low-grade fever
• Mild chills

If you suspect that you have walking pneumonia, have yourself checked immediately and talk to your doctor to prevent complications.

Treatments for Walking Pneumonia

Thankfully, there are numerous options to treat pneumonia, depending on its severity and a person’s overall health. Patients may opt for treatments such as:

• Antibiotics
• Antivirals
• Oxygen therapy
• Mechanical ventilation
• Corticosteroids

Are we seeing another global pandemic threat?

Don’t panic — health experts want you to know there’s nothing to worry about. Although the pneumonia outbreak in the US is concerning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says they’re closely monitoring the situation. 

“Based on our provisional assessment, we are seeing seasonal trends. Nothing is appearing out of the ordinary, but we are continuing to monitor,” a CDC spokesperson said.

Can the Philippines see a similar outbreak?

Here on our tropical shores, the Department of Health (DOH) has just confirmed we now have four cases of “walking pneumonia,” also known as Mycoplasma pneumoniae. This common bacterial infection commonly affects kids. The findings follow reports of increasing cases of respiratory illnesses in China.

“This is not a notifiable disease globally. The DOH can scan, but we depend on what the media or the World Health Organization will report. So far, the only country that has recorded incidents of Mycoplasma pneumonia is China,” the department said last December 6.

What can we do to stay safe?

Aside from eating healthily and regular exercise, you can protect yourself by getting vaccinated against pneumococcal diseases, frequently washing your hands, wearing face masks, and keeping off close contact with individuals who may have symptoms of respiratory infections. 

It’s also good to have proper ventilation in your living and working spaces and use air purifiers to filter out airborne pollutants.

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