Recently, there has been an increase in secondary bacterial infections including Streptococcus pneumoniae, and many people have developed pneumonia or meningitis. Kwan Rihua, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor of the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescents of HKU, said today (27 December) that many cases of infection with the new crown or influenza have been seen clinically, causing secondary bacterial invasion, and children's infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae has increased.

Kwan pointed out that the current free vaccination of 13-valent Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine for young children is not effective against serum type 3, so there are cases of purulent pneumonia after infection, or permanent impact on lung function. He described the situation as urgent and that experts from the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases will meet shortly to discuss the introduction of new 15- or 20-valent vaccines.

Kwan Rihua pointed out that he noticed that the number of cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in children has increased recently. (Profile photo/Photo by Yu Junliang)

Guan Rihua said that many cases were infected with the new crown flu and caused secondary bacterial invasion

According to the Department of Health, as of April this year, there were 19 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease. Guan Rihua said that many cases have been clinically seen after infection with new coronary pneumonia and influenza, causing secondary bacterial invasion, and children's infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae has increased.

The current free 13-valent Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine for young children is not effective against serotype 3

He said that the current free vaccination of young children with 13-valent Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine is not effective against serum type 3, because its bacterial cell wall is relatively thicker than other bacteria, and antibodies and white blood cells are more difficult to "break" the cell wall, so there are cases of purulent pneumonia after infection, that is, the lungs will contain pus and appear "white lung", or permanently affect lung function, "may lose a quarter or even half of the lung".

Microscopic Streptococcus pneumoniae. (Web Photo)

The Scientific Committee will meet shortly to discuss the introduction of a 15-valent or 20-valent vaccine

He described the situation as urgent that experts from the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases would meet in the near future to discuss the introduction of foreign-developed 15- or 20-valent vaccines. He explained that the relevant vaccines use special technology, which can produce a special immune response against serotype 3, and the number of cases of serotype 3 infection after vaccination in foreign countries and other places has also decreased significantly.

He also pointed out that vaccines are not "more expensive, better", when considering the introduction of 15-valent or 20-valent vaccines, it is necessary to consider whether they can produce a good immune response to different bacteria in the real world.

Yulong Liu, Chairman of the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases. (Profile picture)

Lau Yulong, a government expert consultant and chair professor of the Department of Child and Adolescent Sciences at the University of Hong Kong, said on the commercial TV program that a 2-year-old girl infected with parainfluenza earlier had mild upper respiratory tract infection symptoms in the first two weeks, and by the third week began to have a high fever, with a body temperature of 39 to 40 degrees Celsius.

He explained that the exposure of young children to viruses or bacteria has decreased in the past few years, describing the current situation as "debt repayment", believing that Hong Kong has accumulated debts for 3 to 4 years and has not been paid off, so he expects that there will still be a relatively high number of cases in the near June. He believes that in the future, more attention should be paid to the pathogens that cause severe pneumonia or respiratory infections, including influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, enterovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza, etc.

Respiratory syncytial virus cases have not decreased Kwan Rihua described the situation as unusual

In addition to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, Kwan also said that RSV is generally more common in winter or early spring, but the number of RSV cases has not decreased in recent days, which is unusual. He stressed that respiratory syncytial virus is not an ordinary flu, and the virus will aggregate cells to form large objects that block the tiny bronchi of young children and make it difficult for them to breathe.

The investigation found that only two adults were willing to be vaccinated against Streptococcus pneumoniae IV. Medical Association Calls on the Government to Provide New Crown for Free|Expert Advisor Liu Yulong is expected to have peaked and is rampant, "Small volatility" will continue to repeat, the Hong Kong government announced the end of the flu season, the peak period lasted for 7 weeks, a total of 172 lives, including two children, the new crown epidemic | Liu Yulong pointed out that it has reached the top, and there is no need to become a frightened bird