Each year an estimated 2 million cases and 100,000 pneumonia-related hospitalizations occur in the United States.

Causes

Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a small bacterium. Person-to-person transmission by contact with respiratory secretions. Incubation period is 1 to 4 weeks. Persons of all ages are at risk but rarely children less than 5 years old. It is the leading cause of pneumonia in school-age children and young adults.

Risk Factors

Outbreaks can occur especially in crowded military and institutional (e.g., college) settings. Outbreaks in these settings can last several months.

Symptoms

Majority with upper respiratory tract infections with fever, cough, malaise, and headache. May lead to tracheobronchitis with fever and nonproductive cough: radiologically confirmed pneumonia develops in 5-10% of cases; rare extrapulmonary syndromes, including cardiologic, neurologic, and dermatologic findings.

Treatment

See your doctor for treatment options.

Prevention

Avoid people who display symptoms.

References

CDC