Prepare for a possible surge of coughs in classrooms and homes across the US! Cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a bacteria causing a type of walking pneumonia, are on the rise, especially among young children, prompting concern from pediatricians nationwide. The good news? Most cases are mild. However, be prepared for these infections to linger, potentially spreading through families and schools for weeks.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
If you or your child has been battling a persistent cough, you’re not alone. The CDC is reporting a nationwide increase in cases of a specific type of walking pneumonia, particularly impacting young children. NPR health correspondent Maria Godoy brings us the latest details.
MARIA GODOY, BYLINE: Dr. Preeti Sharma, a pediatric pulmonologist at UT Southwestern and Children’s Health in Dallas, also happens to be a mom. When her 12-year-old daughter came home from school displaying typical summer cold symptoms, Dr. Sharma couldn’t shake a feeling that something else might be going on.
PREETI SHARMA: There was a runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat, she seemed a little tired, and had a reduced appetite.
GODOY: Then the cough began.
SHARMA: It was something we just watched progress. It developed into this really deep, persistent cough that disrupted everything.
GODOY: That distinctive cough was Sharma’s clue that her daughter had Mycoplasma pneumonia. This infection, caused by bacteria, typically begins to increase across the US during spring and summer, but this year, the surge continued into the fall. Dr. Sharma noticed a sharp increase in cases after children returned to school in Dallas.
SHARMA: Kids are spreading it to each other at school, and then bringing it home to their families as well.
GODOY: This type of pneumonia often presents with upper respiratory symptoms. Some children may also develop redness in their eyes or a rash. Dr. Caleb Ward, affiliated with Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., has witnessed a tenfold increase in cases this year.
He emphasizes that many cases are mild, hence the “walking pneumonia” label.
CALEB WARD: People might have mistakenly gone about their day, attending school or work, thinking they just had a minor cold, when in fact they had Mycoplasma pneumonia.
GODOY: New York City has also seen a significant uptick in cases.
Dr. Adam Ratner, an infectious disease specialist at NYU and Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, notes that Mycoplasma pneumonia is traditionally more common in children ages 5 to 17.
ADAM RATNER: That’s changed in the last year during this current wave.
GODOY:
While the infection still predominantly affects older children…
RATNER: We’re seeing more cases in the 2- to 4-year-old age group. This pattern is being observed nationwide and aligns with our findings here.
GODOY: Fortunately, most children can recover at home with supportive care – plenty of fluids, age-appropriate fever reducers if needed, and lots of rest. Honey can soothe coughs in children over the age of one. Dr. Ratner advises using the same judgment you’d apply to any sick child when deciding when to call the doctor.
RATNER:
If a child is breathing faster or struggling to breathe, or has a high fever, those are situations where a visit to the pediatrician is warranted.
GODOY:
Antibiotics may be necessary for some children. Macrolides like azithromycin are the usual choice because amoxicillin, the go-to antibiotic for pediatricians, is ineffective against Mycoplasma pneumonia. Here’s Dr. Preeti Sharma again:
SHARMA: The good news about Mycoplasma is that it’s not a new bacteria.
It responds well to antibiotics, and children usually feel much better soon after starting treatment.
GODOY:
Dr. Sharma suggests that children can return to school once they’ve been fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours, as long as they feel well enough. However, be prepared for lingering symptoms like cough and runny nose for weeks. Even then, they might still be contagious. That’s one reason why outbreaks of Mycoplasma pneumonia tend to last a long time.
Maria Godoy, NPR News.
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