Updated 06.43 | Published 06.40
unsaveSave
Sweden is expected to undergo the largest mycoplasma outbreak in several years.
The bacterium can lead to pneumonia and young people are hit hardest.
Tindra Westling, 21, has been suffering from coughing fits for almost two months.
– I felt like I was dying and I’m still coughing up blood, she says.
Do you have a fever and a persistent dry cough that refuses to go away?
Then you may have been affected by mycoplasma.
During the autumn, the largest outbreak of mycoplasma in Sweden is expected for several years.
Mycoplasma is a bacteria that causes fever, headache, sore throat and dry cough.
expand-left
full screen Tindra Westling, 21. Photo: Private
May lead to pneumonia
For most people, the disease usually does not progress further than that. However, approximately one in ten infected suffer from pneumonia.
According to the Public Health Agency, it is usually children of school age, teenagers and adults in their 20s and 30s who are infected.
– These age groups are likely particularly affected because they have not been exposed to the infection to the same extent as older people, says State Epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén, who is also an infectious disease doctor and professor at the Sahlgrenska Academy.
Because we lived in isolation during the pandemic years and had little contact with other people, not only was the infection of the coronavirus slowed down – but also other diseases such as mycoplasma.
But the fact that few got the disease then also means that few now have immunity.
Therefore, the infection is now increasing in Sweden. The increase can be seen in the number of positive laboratory results and that more people need hospital treatment for mycoplasma.
– There are clearly more now than normal being treated in hospital for mycoplasma, but most only get mildly ill and never seek medical care. It is only the tip of an iceberg that is diagnosed, says Magnus Gisslén.
expand-left
fullscreen Illustration. Photo: Artur Plawgo / Getty Images
FACT Mycoplasma
The infection is transmitted as airborne droplet infection. Major spread of Mycoplasma in society occurs approximately every four years.
It takes two to three weeks from being infected until the disease breaks out. The disease is most contagious when you first get symptoms.
Common symptoms are hoarseness, fever and dry cough. Approximately one in ten infected people develop 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.
Anyone who suspects that they have been infected with mycoplasma should treat it as a common cold. If you feel really unwell, for example, it feels difficult to breathe and your chest and back hurt, you should contact healthcare through 1177.
Source: Public Health Agency
Read more
expand-left
fullscreenTindra Westling Photo: Private
“It sounded like I was screaming when I coughed”
Tindra Westling, 21, is one of those who fell ill during the autumn. At the beginning of September, she felt cold symptoms and a severe cough. She had just started a new job and had to call in sick after only two work shifts.
– It started with me coughing non-stop. It sounded like I was screaming when I coughed and what worried me the most was that pure blood came out, says Tindra.
It just got worse and worse and finally she had to go to the emergency room.
– The coughing attacks came every few seconds and I could hardly speak. It was brutal. Then my boyfriend did not hesitate and said that we should drive into the emergency room at once.
“Feeling dying”
There, Tindra was tested for a range of different viruses and bacteria. Then she was informed that she had been affected by mycoplasma, which also caused pneumonia.
She was given antibiotics to take for seven days. But she didn’t feel it had any effect.
– It didn’t get better despite the antibiotics, I felt just as bad and continued to cough up blood. It was sick. I had coughing attacks at night so I could hardly sleep and had a high fever and super chills. I felt dying.
expand-left
full screen Magnus Gisslén, State Epidemiologist. Photo: Oscar Olsson/TT
Tindra also had problems eating because of the persistent cough and the pain she felt in her throat.
On a return visit and x-ray of the lungs, they were able to confirm that the antibiotics worked well and removed the bacteria.
But despite this, her condition has not returned to normal. During the last week she was so dizzy and nauseous that she could not get out of bed.
Hope to be able to work again
This week Tindra has felt a little better and therefore made the first day back at work. But she still worries about the blood she’s coughing up.
– The doctors have said that if I still have a high fever and blood continues to come when I cough, I must seek medical care again. We’ll see if it works out now or if I have to seek treatment again.
She now longs to be able to work again and live a normal life.
– And I want to be able to move around and come up with fun things with my partner in my spare time. I hope to be able to sing again when my voice improves. I miss that so much, says Tindra.