The bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae was so rare at the height of the COVID pandemic that a medical journal published an article suggesting it might be gone forever. On the other hand, the increase in disease among young children is also unusual because documented cases usually occur among school-age children or adolescents.
MAY CAUSE LUNG DAMAGE
M. pneumoniae typically causes respiratory infections and can cause damage to the throat, trachea, and lungs. Most illnesses are mild, starting with fever, sore throat and cough, and may present as chest cold. The onset of symptoms is very slow.
M. pneumoniae usually causes walking pneumonia; This name was given because it is less severe than other types of bacterial pneumonia.
“People with pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae may appear to be better than expected for someone with a lung infection,” the CDC said in a recent warning.
HELD THE SUMMIT IN AUGUST
The CDC issued the warning about the bacteria after noticing an increase in emergency room data listing mycoplasma pneumonia as a diagnosis. The increase was first detected in the spring, and cases appear to have peaked in August but remain high. The most surprising increase was seen in 2- to 4-year-olds, but a significant jump was also noted in 5- to 17-year-olds.
CAUSES AN EPIDEMIC
Bacteria are spread through respiratory droplets such as cough or sneeze. The long incubation period (one to four weeks) makes the bacteria prone to causing outbreaks in places like dormitories, schools and nursing homes. Cough symptoms also often last a long time, which means outbreaks may continue.