What You Need to Know: Experts Downplay Concerns About White Lung Pneumonia

Understanding the concern related to 'white lung pneumonia' is essential.

There are increased instances of pneumonia making some people apprehensive about the term 'white lung syndrome,' or 'white lung pneumonia.' However, according to experts, this term is not accurate and may cause more confusion.

The World Health Organization (WHO) made a statement on November 23 about a number of respiratory illness outbreaks occurring in children in the northern part of China. The organization was investigating the cause of these undiagnosed pneumonia clusters in children's hospitals.

On November 29, Warren County, Ohio health officials reported an extremely high number of pediatric pneumonia cases occurring this autumn.

Despite not being correlated, both infections in Ohio and China have been referred to as "white lung syndrome" or "white lung pneumonia" in some media outlets and other platforms such as X, originally known as Twitter.

Dr. Ed Milder, a Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist, explains that the name comes from the lung whitening shown in chest X-rays in the presence of fluid in the lungs.

Standard pneumonia symptoms include sore throat, fever, fatigue, and in younger children, sneezing, diarrhea, or a runny nose.

The recent pneumonia outbreaks don't pose any additional risks and seem to be primarily caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae or other pathogens, which are all normal causes of pneumonia.

Milder points out that the children affected have a blend of typical pneumonia-causing factors. This fact dispels the myth of a new disease and is an expected symptom of the cold and flu season.

The terms “white lung syndrome” or “white lung pneumonia” are ambiguous and do not accurately describe an actual medical condition.

Dr. Ian Michelow, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut, notes that these terms do not describe the child's health condition or the severity of their illness.

Moreover, "white lung syndrome" does not refer to a specific sickness or pathogen.

The principal sign of “white lung pneumonia,” a chest X-ray showing up white, is neither a reliable nor exclusive indication of pneumonia.

Michelow emphasizes that this could indicate an infection, accumulated fluid in the lungs, or damage from smoke inhalation or other pollutants, making it an unreliable diagnostic tool.

Essentially, the pneumonia outbreaks in China and Ohio are simply part of the severe cold and flu seasons witnessed in recent years.

Due to the restrictions and social distancing measures caused by the pandemic, people were less likely to contract the viruses that can lead to pneumonia, Milder explains. Since the lifting of these restrictions, respiratory virus cycles have become irregular.

The pneumonia outbreak in Ohio has been linked to adenovirus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumonia, with similar cases reported in China.

These causes are diverse but frequently observed in pneumonia cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating any potential increase in Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in the country.

According to Michelow, Mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria is not the exclusive cause of pneumonia but could be a contributing factor.

Natural cycles cause Mycoplasma to surge every three to seven years, Michelow continues.

This increase can be attributed to the existence of more infections simultaneously and reduced immunity or protection in young children.

Milder reassures that “white lung syndrome” is nothing to worry about for the general public.

However, he added that pneumonia cases can vary in severity, so people should do all they can to remain healthy during the winter months.

Mycoplasma pneumonia cases are generally mild and commonly cause walking pneumonia.

Despite the chest X-ray appearing severe, patients do not fall seriously ill and can even be treated at home, elaborates Michelow.

For these mild cases, antibiotics aren't always needed to treat Mycoplasma pneumonia, he adds.

Of course, there are circumstances where pneumonia cases, particularly in children, can become dangerous. People should always seek medical attention, especially if they’re feeling weak or are having trouble staying hydrated, said Milder.

Most cases of pneumonia are passed when someone comes into contact with the cough of a sick person, Michelow said, so it’s easier to avoid compared to other respiratory illnesses like COVID.

Michelow and Milder agreed that protective measures learned during the pandemic are key for staying safe and avoiding any type of respiratory illness, including the various forms of pneumonia.

These measures include washing your hands, wearing a mask in particularly crowded spaces, staying home when you’re sick, and most importantly, staying up to date on all available vaccines.

“‘White lung syndrome’ sounds dramatic and it sounds very dangerous. But in fact, all it is is a very general description of something which we’ve always known,” said Michelow. “We know how to treat that, and we know how to monitor children for that.”