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Pneumonia Outbreak In China 2023: Echoes Of COVID-19 Pandemic Or A Different Threat?

China Pneumonia Outbreak 2023 Vs COVID-19 Outbreak: Similarities And Differences China pneumonia outbreak: Is this some new disease? Who is affected? Why the outbreak now? Most importantly, do you need to be worried?

Evoking feelings of deja vu among people across the world, China is currently witnessing a sudden surge in pneumonia cases as it enters its first full winter season after lifting COVID-19 restrictions last December. As we are aware of what exactly happened three years back when a similar outbreak was reported in 2019, from the city of Wuhan, let's take a closer look at the possibilities of this outbreak turning into a pandemic, and lives-threatening shape.

What Is Happening In China?

The recent outbreak of pneumonia in China has raised concerns about the possibility of another pandemic, similar to the COVID-19 outbreak that originated in Wuhan in 2019. While the two outbreaks share some similarities, there are also key differences that suggest the current situation may not escalate into a global pandemic.

COVID-19 Vs Mysterious Pneumonia Outbreak In China: Similarities Between The Two

Both the COVID-19 and the current pneumonia outbreaks originated in China, with cases initially concentrated in the country's central and northern regions. Both viruses also caused respiratory illnesses, with symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Additionally, both outbreaks required public health measures to contain the spread of the virus, including lockdowns, travel restrictions, and mask mandates.

Differences Between The Two Outbreaks

Despite these similarities, there are also significant differences between the two outbreaks. The current pneumonia outbreak is caused by a virus known as adenovirus, which is a common cause of respiratory infections. Adenoviruses typically cause mild illness, and their spread is usually limited. In contrast, COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which was not previously known to infect humans. SARS-CoV-2 is more transmissible and can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and death.

Another key difference is the genetic diversity of the viruses. COVID-19 has been shown to mutate rapidly, leading to the emergence of new variants, some of which are more transmissible and vaccine-resistant. Adenoviruses, on the other hand, mutate less frequently, and there is no evidence that the current outbreak is caused by a more transmissible or vaccine-resistant strain.

Another Pandemic Looming? Understanding The Possibility

While the current pneumonia outbreak is a cause for concern, it is important to note that it is not yet a pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a pandemic as "the worldwide spread of a new disease." The current outbreak is still primarily confined to China, and there have been relatively few cases outside of the country. Additionally, the virus causing the outbreak is not novel and is known to cause mild illness in most cases.

However, the outbreak does serve as a reminder of the potential for new pandemics to emerge. With increasing globalization and travel, viruses can spread rapidly around the world. Additionally, climate change and environmental degradation can disrupt ecosystems and increase the risk of zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Is The World Ready For Another Pandemic-Like Outbreak?

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of preparedness for future pandemics. Countries need to invest in strong public health systems, including surveillance systems to detect and track outbreaks, and the capacity to respond quickly and effectively. Additionally, international cooperation is essential to share information and resources and to coordinate responses to outbreaks.

The current pneumonia outbreak is a reminder that we must remain vigilant and prepared for the possibility of future pandemics. By investing in public health systems, promoting international cooperation, and taking steps to reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases, we can work to protect ourselves and our communities from the threat of future pandemics.

What To Know About Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Surgery

Temporal lobe epilepsy causes reoccurring seizures that arise from the temporal lobe on one side of your brain. Surgery may be an effective treatment option for those with temporal lobe epilepsy that doesn't respond to medications.

About one-third of people who have focal epilepsy have temporal lobe epilepsy. The first-line treatment is usually antiseizure medications, but about a third of people don't respond to these. Surgery is an effective treatment option for temporal lobe epilepsy in about 60–70% of people who don't respond to medications.

Because individuals who have surgical treatment for temporal lobe epilepsy surgery are carefully screened and selected, the success rates are generally high and there are fewer risks. But a small number of people may experience some short-term and long-term difficulties related to the surgery.

Learn more about frontal lobe epilepsy.

Surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy can involve removing tissue or creating a lesion (wound) in your temporal lobe and surrounding brain areas to stop seizure activity.

The most common surgery used to treat temporal lobe epilepsy is an anterior temporal lobectomy with amygdalohippocampectomy. This procedure involves removing:

If your seizures are affecting your quality of life and antiseizure medications haven't helped, a doctor may recommend an evaluation to see if you might benefit from surgery.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, almost a third of people don't respond to medications.

The surgical team can give you the best idea of what will happen during your procedure.

Here's an overview of what you might expect during one of these types of surgery:

Your hair will be shaved around the surgical site.

You'll receive a general anesthetic intravenously (through an intravenous [IV] line). The IV line is usually inserted into a vein in your arm. After receiving a general anesthetic, you'll be in a state of nonfeeling and unawareness so that you don't feel any pain.

An incision will be made over your ear. A piece of your skull will be removed so that your surgeon can access your brain.

They'll then carefully remove part of your temporal lobe, amygdala, and hippocampus.

Once the brain tissue is removed, the surgeon will replace the piece of your skull and close your skin with stitches.

Since there are several types of temporal lobe epilepsy surgery, the length of surgery can vary. If less invasive methods are used, the surgery may be quicker. If open surgery is necessary, surgery may take longer.

On average, temporal lobe epilepsy surgery usually takes between 3–4 hours.

Before the procedure, you'll receive tests to make sure surgery is likely to be safe and effective. These tests may include:

blood tests

video electroencephalogram, which may require a hospital stay of 3–10 days

electroencephalogram at home

imaging tests such as:

psychiatric evaluation

tests to assess your:

Presurgical testing has two goals. One is to determine whether the surgery is likely to be effective, which relies on identifying where the seizures are coming from in the brain and if it's just one area that can be removed or ablated.

The other is to determine whether you'd lose important brain functions after this seizure-causing area is removed or ablated during surgery.

The night before or the morning of the procedure, you'll need to have a bath and wash your hair with a special soap.

You'll have a bandage wrapped around your head when you leave the operating room. You may also have a clear plastic tube coming out of the bandages for the first 24 hours to help remove fluid.

You'll likely need to spend between 3–5 days in the hospital to recover. You'll gradually be able to resume normal life and can likely go back to school or work after about 4 weeks.

As many as 70% of people are seizure-free after having surgery to treat temporal lobe epilepsy. Even at follow-ups longer than 20 years, researchers have reported that around 65% of people remain seizure-free.

In a 2022 study from Brazil, researchers reported a short-term complication rate of 13% and a long-term complication rate of 13.5% among 621 people treated at one clinic from 1994–2011.

There are many possible short-term and long-term risks following temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. Aside from seizures, which may affect around 2.7% of people following surgery, most long-term risks are relatively rare, affecting less than 1% of people who have temporal lobe epilepsy.

Long-term risks may include:

Short-term risks may include:

Temporal lobe epilepsy is the type of epilepsy linked to the best outlook in adults. Studies have reported seizure-free success rates around 60–70% after surgery.

What is the survival rate for temporal lobe surgery?

The vast majority of people who have temporal lobe surgery survive. In a 2017 study, researchers found that the mortality rate for people after temporal lobectomy was 1.4%.

What are the effects of temporal lobe epilepsy surgery?

Temporal lobe epilepsy can potentially stop temporal lobe seizures. But surgery isn't always effective.

How many medications should I try before considering surgery?

Many people need to try two or three types of antiseizure medications before finding one that works.

What happens if surgery fails?

If surgery doesn't completely stop your seizures, you'll need to continue taking any prescribed medications. A combination of surgery and medications may be effective when seizures aren't controlled with just one of these.

Surgery is a treatment option for temporal lobe epilepsy that doesn't respond to antiseizure medications. Most temporal lobe epilepsy surgery involves making a small lesion in the seizure focus on the temporal lobe of your brain, but surgery may involve removing part of the temporal lobe as well as the amygdala and hippocampus.

Many people become seizure-free after surgery, but the procedure may involve some risks. Your surgical team can best advise you on the potential benefits and risks.

Mysterious Pneumonia Outbreak In China: Hospitals Overwhelmed With Ill Children, WHO Seeks Details

In the wake of grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, China is now confronting another health emergency, this time among children. A mysterious pneumonia outbreak has surged in Chinese schools, overwhelming hospitals and eliciting serious apprehension from global health experts.

Epicenters of the outbreak have been identified in Beijing and Liaoning province, where hospitals are inundated with sick children exhibiting symptoms akin to pneumonia. The severity of the situation has prompted the suspension of classes in certain schools, echoing the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, as both students and teachers have fallen ill.

Affected children are experiencing high fever and lung inflammation, distinct from typical pneumonia symptoms as there is no cough. These symptoms are reminiscent of flu or respiratory virus diseases such as RSV.

A resident of Beijing shared with Taiwanese news website FTV News, "Many, many (children) are hospitalized. They don't cough and have no symptoms. They just have a high temperature, and many develop pulmonary nodules."

Despite the surge in cases, there have been no reported deaths thus far. In early October, hospitals across China observed a significant rise in undiagnosed pneumonia cases, coinciding with the National Day holiday.

On Tuesday, the international disease surveillance platform ProMed issued an alert regarding the undiagnosed pneumonia affecting children. The cause behind the outbreak remains unclear, and although adults appear unaffected, the rapid spread among children suggests a potential link to school environments.

A video shared by Eric Feigl-Ding, a U.S. Epidemiologist, depicted people in China wearing face masks in response to the pneumonia outbreak.

Medical professionals speculate that the culprit behind the outbreak could be mycoplasma pneumoniae, commonly known as "walking pneumonia," a bacterial infection typically afflicting younger children. While the pathogen typically causes mild infections, severe cases can lead to hospitalization.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reached out to China for details regarding the increasing number of respiratory illnesses and reported pneumonia clusters in children. The WHO's China office labeled the situation as a "routine" check and requested information on trends in the circulation of known pathogens, including influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Chinese authorities from the National Health Commission reported an increase in respiratory disease incidence during a press conference on November 13. The authorities attributed the rise to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens, including influenza, mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus, and the virus causing COVID-19, according to Reuters.

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