This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Mycoplasma pneumonia

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Mycoplasma pneumonia is the cause of up to 20% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia and has also been implicated in some hospital-based epidemics. (1).

Infection occurs at 3- to 5-year intervals and are considered to be polyclonal (2). They chiefly affects children and young adults, causing an atypical pneumonia characterised by an influenza-like respiratory illness of gradual onset with headache, malaise, fever and cough.

Physical findings may be insignificant relative to the radiologic appearance of the pneumonia; some individuals are asymptomatic. Close indoor contact facilitates spread with younger people and smokers at increased risk.

Reference:

  • 1. Jain S, Williams DJ, Arnold SR, et al. Community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization among US children. N Engl J Med. 2015;372:835-45.
  • 2. Beeton ML, Zhang XS, Uldum SA, et al. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, 11 countries in Europe and Israel, 2011 to 2016. Euro Surveill. 2020 Jan;25(2)

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.