Indonesia Confirms 6 Cases of Mycoplasma Pneumonia

DISEASE - JAKARTA. The Ministry of Health has confirmed 6 cases of mycoplasma pneumonia infection in Indonesia. However, all six patients with mycoplasma pneumonia have been declared recovered.

The Director General (Dirjen) of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P), Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, explained the entry of mycoplasma pneumonia in Indonesia on Wednesday (6/12).

All six cases of mycoplasma pneumonia occurred in DKI Jakarta. Five cases occurred at Medistra Hospital and one case at JWCC Asih Women & Children's Community Hospital, both hospitals are in South Jakarta.

However, Maxi claimed that these cases had occurred long ago, namely in mid-October 2023 and late November 2023. For example, in the case found at Medistra Hospital in Jakarta, Maxi mentioned that it occurred before there was a circular from the Ministry of Health to increase vigilance for mycoplasma pneumonia cases.

At Medistra Hospital, according to Maxi, two patients were admitted and treated on October 12 and October 15. In addition, three other patients were treated as outpatients in November, with the last one on November 23, all were outpatients.

Meanwhile, one more case of mycoplasma Pneumonia patient underwent inpatient treatment at JWCC Asih Hospital in South Jakarta.

"According to the reports from the hospitals, all patients have recovered. Indeed, the initial symptoms are the same as mycoplasma pneumonia in general, the same as Pneumonia," he said. 

Early symptoms of mycoplasma pneumonia are like patients with a runny nose, and shortness of breath, usually starting with a fever or fever accompanied by a cough. In addition, patients feel pain when swallowing, and mild shortness of breath.

Most patients are as young as 3 years old, and the oldest is 12 years old.

After receiving the report, the Ministry of Health re-examined the sample and the results of the laboratory examination at Medistra Hospital.

"We cross-checked from the sample, but not directly from the patient because they have returned home and are carrying out their usual activities because they have recovered," Maxi explained.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Health also conducted an epidemiological investigation by digging up information both at school and in the environment. "Because transmission is through easily contagious droplets.

With this finding, the Ministry of Health urges hospitals and health facilities to learn from this issue and immediately report within 24 hours to the Ministry of Health. 

Encouraging clean living, washing hands, self-imposing the use of masks so as not to inconvenience others
Handling these cases in the hospital is not difficult, it's not a virus, it's enough with antibiotics

Maxi stressed mycoplasma pneumonia is not a new disease, but a disease that has existed since long before the Covid pandemic, 8.5% occurred before Covid. 

However, these cases have increased drastically in China recently, and it is not known for certain what the cause is.
"In Europe, it also occurs in the summer, in Indonesia, it occurs during the transition from the dry season to the rainy season, so there is a cough," he said.