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Mycoplasma pneumoniae or ‘walking pneumonia’: Symptoms, treatment information

By Kelly Hayes
Published  October 31, 2024 6:39am CDT
Health
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FILE - Mycoplasma Pneumoniae (Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)

The Brief

    • Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of mild respiratory illness, sometimes referred to as "walking pneumonia."
    • Symptom onset is "typically gradual," the CDC says. It can include fever, a cough, and a sore throat. 
    • Children under 5 may have different symptoms, including diarrhea, wheezing, or vomiting.

There’s been a notable rise in "walking pneumonia" cases in the U.S., and particularly among young children, according to U.S. health officials. 

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of mild respiratory illness, and since late spring, the number of infections caused by the illness has been increasing, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. 

CDC officials sent out an Oct. 18 bulletin to the public about the increase in illnesses.

Here’s what to know about symptoms and treatment.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae: What is it?

Mycoplasma is a bacterium that can infect different parts of the body, and specifically with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, it can cause respiratory tract infections, the CDC says on its website. The bacteria can damage the lining of the respiratory tract, including the throat, windpipe, and lungs.

M. pneumoniae infections can happen at any age, but they most often occur among children ages 5 to 17, as well as young adults, the CDC says. 

M. pneumoniae can cause ‘walking pneumonia’

People with pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae "can seem better than expected for someone with a lung infection," the CDC states. 

Those with mild symptoms may not need to stay home or in bed – thus resulting in the term "walking pneumonia." 

Walking pneumonia symptoms

The CDC says M. pneumoniae infections are generally mild and mostly present as a chest cold, but can also present as pneumonia. Symptom onset is "typically gradual," the agency says. It can include fever, a cough, and a sore throat. 

Children under 5 may have different symptoms, including diarrhea, wheezing, or vomiting.

"While uncommon, serious complications from infection can occur that require hospital care, including new or worsening asthma, severe pneumonia, and encephalitis," the CDC says.

Walking pneumonia treatment

Most people with a mild M. pneumoniae infection will recover on their own without medicine, according to the CDC. Over-the-counter medicines can help people feel better while they’re recovering.

There are also several types of antibiotics to treat illness caused by M. pneumoniae. 

"M. pneumoniae bacteria are naturally resistant to certain antibiotics (e.g., beta-lactams such as amoxicillin) that are commonly used to treat other kinds of bacterial pneumonia," the CDC says. "Macrolides (e.g., azithromycin) are the first-line antibiotic treatment for M. pneumoniae infection. Macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae remains relatively uncommon in the United States."

The Source

This story was written based on information shared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding Mycoplasma pneumoniae on Oct. 18, 2024. It was reported from Cincinnati, and Heather Miller and Daniel Miller contributed.