5 things to know about mycoplasma pneumoniae

“With a lot of these infections, the natural history is that you get infected, you get some transient boost in your immunity, and then that immunity wanes over a period of years, and then

over time, you’re susceptible until the next time you’re exposed. And so it may very well be that we’re seeing a sort of rebound to some of these infections that people haven’t seen in a few

years because of all the COVID precautions,” she says. The CDC says _Mycoplasma pneumoniae_ began to re-emerge globally in 2023 “after a prolonged period of low incidence of infections

since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.” 3. IT CAN CAUSE A MILDER ‘WALKING PNEUMONIA’ _Mycoplasma pneumoniae_ infections are most common in children and young adults, but anyone can be

affected, the CDC says. Typically, symptoms are mild and may include a sore throat, headache, fatigue, fever, a cough and sometimes a rash. But _Mycoplasma pneumoniae_ can cause pneumonia,

or inflammation of the lungs, and is the most common cause of “walking pneumonia” in the U.S. (Walking pneumonia, also called atypical pneumonia, is a milder form of the disease that usually

doesn’t require bed rest, though symptoms tend to be “a little bit more lingering,” Thielen says.) Sometimes an infection can turn severe and lead to more serious pneumonia, asthma attacks,

kidney problems and other health issues. People at higher risk for a severe case of _Mycoplasma pneumoniae_ include those with an underlying lung condition, individuals with a weakened

immune system and people who are recouping from a respiratory illness, the CDC says. Most people recover from a _Mycoplasma pneumoniae_ infection without requiring a prescription from the

doctor. However, specific types of antibiotics can be used to treat pneumonia caused by the bacterium. 4. STAYING UP TO DATE ON VACCINES CAN HELP   Like COVID-19, influenza and many other

common respiratory illnesses, _Mycoplasma pneumoniae_ is spread through small droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. This means most of us are already familiar with the

actions that can help prevent an infection, such as staying home when you’re sick and washing your hands often. “All the same things hold true,” Pekosz says, referring to COVID-19 and flu

precautions.