Increased Incidence and Symptoms
The reports a significant rise in walking pneumonia and acute bronchitis cases, particularly among children aged 2 to 4, attributed to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections since late spring.
While walking pneumonia typically presents with fever, cough, and sore throat, in younger children, symptoms may include diarrhea, wheezing, or vomiting.
Prevention and Treatment Recommendations
The CDC emphasizes the importance of prevention through routine handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes, especially in crowded settings like schools.
For most, recovery from mild M. pneumoniae infections occurs without medication, but serious cases may require treatment with macrolides, highlighting the need for healthcare providers to consider M. pneumoniae in pneumonia cases among hospitalized children.