Outbreak of pediatric pneumonia reported in Warren County

More children are getting sick with pneumonia in Warren County as cases continue to rise, according to health department officials.

Since August, 142 juveniles have been diagnosed with the respiratory disease, which is above the county average and meets the state's definition of an outbreak, according to Wednesday news release.

“We do not think this is a novel/new respiratory disease but rather a large uptick in the number of pneumonia cases normally seen at one time,” Warren County Health Commissioner Duane Stansbury and medical director Dr. Clint Koenig said in the release.

Cases span across multiple school districts as officials continue to investigate the source and cause, according to health officials. However, they have not been able to narrow it down.

Reports indicate the average age in these cases is 8 years old and the most common symptoms are cough, fever and fatigue.

Three pathogens have been recovered thus far in their research: Mycoplasma pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumonia and Adenovirus.

The Warren County Health Department is working with the Ohio Health Department and hospitals to determine the cause.

“As we approach the holiday season when many of us will be gathering together with family and friends, please remember to take necessary precautions to protect your health: Wash your hands, cover your cough, stay home when ill, and stay up to date on vaccines,” the department recommends.

If you need to report a pneumonia case, contact the health department at 513-695-2097.

This report was provided by Enquirer media partner Fox19.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Outbreak of pediatric pneumonia reported in Warren County