What is mycoplasma infection?
Mycoplasma infection is respiratory illness caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a microscopic organism related to bacteria.
Anyone can get the disease, but it most often affects older children and young adults.
Mycoplasma infections occur sporadically throughout the year. Widespread community outbreaks may occur at intervals of four to eight years. Mycoplasma infection is most common in late summer and fall.
Mycoplasma is spread through contact with droplets from the nose and throat of infected people when they cough and sneeze. Transmission is thought to require prolonged close contact with an infected person. Spread in families, schools and institutions occurs slowly. The contagious period is probably fewer than 10 days and occasionally longer.
Typical symptoms include fever, cough, bronchitis, sore throat, headache and malaise. A common result of mycoplasma infection is pneumonia (sometimes called ³walking pneumonia² because it is usually mild and rarely requires hospitalization). Infections of the middle ear (otitis) also can result. Symptoms may persist for a few days to more than a month.
Symptoms generally begin 15-25 days after exposure. The symptoms generally develop slowly, over a period of two to four days.
Mycoplasma infection is usually diagnosed on the basis of typical symptoms. A nonspecific blood test (cold agglutinins) is helpful in diagnosis, but is not always positive. The use of more specific laboratory tests is often limited to special outbreak investigations.
Immunity after mycoplasma infection does occur, but is not life-long. Second infections are known to occur, although they may be milder. The duration of immunity is unknown.
Antibiotics such as erythromycin or tetracycline are effective treatments. However, because mycoplasma infection usually resolves on its own, antibiotic treatment of mild symptoms is not essential.
At this time, there are no vaccines for the prevention of mycoplasma infection and there are no reliably effective measures for control. As with any respiratory disease, all people should cover their face when coughing or sneezing.
Source: NY State Department of Health