Cases of “walking pneumonia” on the rise among young children: what you need to know

article

FILE – A Louisiana doctor checks a child’s lungs for an infection. (Photo by Mario Villafuerte/Getty Images)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is seeing a notable increase in cases of “walking pneumonia” and acute bronchitis in young children.

According to the CDC, respiratory infections caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae have increased in the United States over the past six months, especially among young children. In previous years, most pneumonia or acute bronchitis caused by the bacteria has been seen in school-aged children and adolescents.

Infections appear to have peaked in late August. A CDC spokesperson told CBS News that the highest infection rates are in two central regions of the country, from Texas to Iowa. Other states are also sounding the alarm, including Wisconsin and Illinois.

LEARN MORE: Florida reports increase in cases of flesh-eating bacteria following recent hurricanes

What is Mycoplasma pneumoniae?

Mycoplasma is a bacteria that can infect different parts of the body. M. pneumoniae is a type of Mycoplasma bacteria that can damage the lining of the respiratory tract, including the throat, trachea, and lungs.

RELATED: Whooping cough cases increased by more than 340% compared to the same period last year

M. pneumoniae is a common cause of mild respiratory illness, according to the CDC. The most common type of bacterial infection is tracheobronchitis, better known as chest colds.

“Although rare, serious complications of infection may occur and require hospital care, including new or worsened asthma, severe pneumonia, and encephalitis,” the CDC says.

The M. pneumoniae bacteria is spread by inhaling respiratory droplets from an infected person’s coughs or sneezes. Washing your hands and covering coughs and sneezes are effective ways to prevent the spread.

Outbreaks primarily occur in crowded settings such as schools, college dorms and nursing homes, according to the CDC. Epidemics can be prolonged due to:

• the long incubation period of M. pneumoniae, lasting between one and four weeks
• the ability of the bacteria to persist in the respiratory tract for several months
• prolonged presence of symptoms such as cough

Children younger than 5 years old infected with M. pneumoniae often experience the following cold-like symptoms, according to the CDC:

• Sneezing
• Blocked or runny nose
• Sore throat
• Watery eyes
• Wheezing
• Vomiting or diarrhea

What is walking pneumonia?

When an M. pneumoniae infection progresses to pneumonia, it is usually a less severe form of bacterial pneumonia commonly called “walking pneumonia.”

According to the American Lung Association, walking pneumonia is a non-medical term for a milder case of pneumonia.

“But make no mistake. Walking pneumonia can still be miserable and is usually accompanied by cough, fever, chest pain, mild chills, headache, etc.,” says the American Lung Association. “It’s more like a bad cold, and despite what the term ‘walking’ implies, taking care of yourself is the best path to recovery.”

Most people start to feel better within three to five days, but a cough from pneumonia can last for weeks or months after treatment, according to the ALA.

According to the CDC, macrolides, a class of antibiotics, are the first line of treatment for M. pneumoniae – the infection is resistant to other common antibiotics like penicillin.