“There is a three week delay before the disease appears”

Since this fall, respiratory infections have increased Mycoplasma pneumoniae Found in France and some European countries. These bacteria are spread through respiratory droplets during close contact, with an incubation period of usually one to three weeks.

Symptoms are pneumonia-like with low-grade fever, cough, fatigue, headache, etc. “It is sometimes accompanied by extra-respiratory signs, especially dermatological or neurological. The diagnosis should also be considered in the face of acute community-acquired pneumonia after failure of antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid within 48 hours to 72 hours.

“, details the High Health Authority. To confirm the diagnosis, HAS recommends a chest X-ray.

Importance of barrier gestures

“Do not be afraid because it is a pathology that can be cured quite easily with traditional remedies.“, reassures Dr Christian Recchia. The High Health Authority specifies that a radiological delay of 72 hours is possible compared to the onset of symptoms.

To reduce the risk of contamination, it is recommended to implement some preventative measures: wear a protective mask in case of symptoms, wash your hands frequently with soap and water, ventilate your home daily, sneeze into your elbow instead of your hand, and favor single-use tissues. To do. “We have to be very careful with this pathology which mainly affects very young people, youth and young adults. For young children, their ability to resist this pathology is difficult

“, warns Dr. Recchia.

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