Ohio community sees spike in pediatric pneumonia

Health officials in a southwestern Ohio county are reporting a “large” uptick in the number of pediatric pneumonia cases.

According to a news release from the Warren County Health District, there have been 145 reported cases of pneumonia in children ages 3 years –14 years. There have been no reported deaths.

While the number of cases is higher this year, health experts say the severity is like that experienced in previous years.

Most cases recover at home and are treated with antibiotics, according to the release.

Medical officials say the increase is not suspected of being a new/novel respiratory virus.

"Parents should really be at ease at this point,” Clint Koenig, the Medical Director of the Warren County Health District said. "The bugs that we do have, based on our surveillance, are typical respiratory bugs that we see this time of year."

The health district says it is sharing the information to make people aware of illness and take necessary steps to protect their health such as washing their hands, covering cough, staying home when ill, and staying up to date on vaccines.

It is not uncommon for respiratory illnesses to spread in the community during this time of year, according to the statement.

The Warren County Health Department did notify the Ohio Department of Health of the "outbreak" which the state defines as "more cases than expected in a particular population for a particular period of time."

The CDC reports the respiratory virus activity across Ohio is minimal and that Ohio does not have and unusual number of respiratory disease outbreaks for this time of year. 

Northern China and Beijing are seeing a surge of pneumonia cases in children - but the Warren County Health Department is certain that these cases are unrelated. 

”No linkage to anywhere internationally or any other parts of our state we have no evidence that this increase uptick is any way related to those other entities,” Koenig said.