Staying Fit
A common type of bacteria that can cause pneumonia is making news headlines in the U.S. and abroad due to an uptick in infections among children.
Called Mycoplasma pneumoniae, the germ typically causes a chest cold, with symptoms ranging from a sore throat to a headache. But it can cause more serious illness in kids and adults alike. One study found that Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the second most common bacteria that causes pneumonia in hospitalized adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Here’s what you need to know about Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a cause of so-called walking pneumonia, including how to best protect yourself from an infection this winter.
1. Mycoplasma pneumoniae isn’t new
Though you may not have heard of it before, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which can damage the lining of the respiratory system, has been around for decades — scientists identified it in 1944, according to the CDC. Each year, it causes at least 2 million infections in the U.S., though health experts say that number is likely much greater, since many cases go undiagnosed.
2. An uptick in cases isn’t surprising
Andrew Pekosz, a professor of microbiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, says we typically see surges of Mycoplasma pneumoniae every few years — three to seven, according to the CDC — so it’s not unexpected to see one now.
What’s with all the buzz, then? “I think everybody is a little bit more on edge these days as we look at pneumonias and respiratory illnesses,” Pekosz says. (You may remember that the coronavirus pandemic started in late 2019 with reports of a mystery pneumonia-like outbreak in China.)
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