Just as urgent care centers across the nation prepare for peak flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also taking note of a rise in Mycoplasma pneumonia cases that’s been going on for the past 6 months. The analysis is based on data from patients discharged from emergency departments with a diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumonia-associated pneumonia or acute bronchitis. According to the agency, there was a peak in August of this year, but cases in general are up across all age groups, especially in children. When a Mycoplasma pneumonia infection progresses to pneumonia, it’s typically a less severe form of bacterial pneumonia often referred to as “walking pneumonia.” That’s why experts believe case numbers are likely higher than what is being tracked: Many patients recover from the mild illness at home without seeking testing or treatment. Infection also increased from 3.6% to 7.4% among children ages 5–17 years in same time frame.
Pediatric cases are of most concern: The percentage of Mycoplasma pneumonia cases in discharge data grew from 1.0% to 7.2% among children ages 2–4 years between March 31 and October 5, 2024, which is notable because the infection historically hasn’t been recognized as a leading cause of pneumonia in this age group.
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