Mycoplasma circulates in society all year round, but in recent months there has been an unusually high peak. Above all, it is young people and adults up to the age of 30 who are affected, and the vast majority get a mild illness that goes away on its own.
But some get pneumonia that can mean they need hospital care – and these are the only ones that have statistics. During September, according to the National Board of Health and Welfare’s statistics, there were around 500 compared to 200, which was the peak for a single month before the pandemic.
The likely explanation for why we see many sick people now is that mycoplasma was almost not spread at all during the first year of the pandemic. It has led to a deterioration of immunity in society, says state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén, who is also an infectious disease doctor and professor at Sahlgrenska Academy.
Cough for weeks
Most people therefore do not get very sick from the mycoplasma. But it can still be troublesome with a persistent cough. A cough that can last for weeks, sometimes even months.
The bacteria are mainly spread when you cough and the contagiousness is greatest at the beginning of the disease and gradually decreases over time, says Gisslén.
The incubation period for mycoplasma is quite long, it can take two to three weeks from the moment of infection until you get sick. Therefore, it is very difficult to limit the spread of the bacteria.
If you feel sick and have a fever, you should stay at home, especially for the first few days. Otherwise, it is usually not necessary, says Gisslén.
Probably less in the future
It is likely that after an outbreak we will return to more normal levels of mycoplasma in the community. But whether there will be the same spread next year too cannot be said yet. It may take several peaks of infection before normality is reached.
There is currently no vaccine against mycoplasma. Those affected by pneumonia are usually treated with antibiotics. But then ordinary penicillin, which is used against many other pneumonias, does not help. Penicillin hits the bacteria’s cell wall, something that mycoplasma lacks.
Facts: Mycoplasma
Common symptoms are fever, cough and headache.
The infection is transmitted as airborne droplet infection.
Greater spread in society occurs approximately every four years.
The incubation period is two to three weeks.
About one in ten infected people get pneumonia.
Anyone who gets mycoplasma develops a limited immunity, but you can become infected several times during your life.
There is no vaccine against mycoplasma.
Source: Public Health Agency