Pneumonia cases are rising among children in the US
Respiratory infections caused by the bacteria ‘Mycoplasma pneumoniae’ have increased in the United States, especially in young children, since the start of the shool year, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Over the past six months, emergency rooms in the country have discharged an increasing number of patients with a Mycoplasma pneumoniae diagnosis, according to USA Today.
Between March 31 and Oct. 5, the percentage of children ages 2-4 who were diagnosed with Mycoplasma pneumoniae grew from 1% to 7.2%, according to the CDC. And among children ages 5-17, the percentage of diagnoses grew from 3.6% to 7.4% .
Even if the infection progresses to pneumonia, it's typically a less severe form of bacterial pneumonia commonly referred to as "walking pneumonia," given that people may not have to stay in bed and go about their normal lives.
Photo: Mladen Borisov/Unsplash
However, though uncommon, serious complications from infection can occur that require hospital care, including new or worsening asthma, severe pneumonia, and encephalitis (brain disease), according to the CDC.
Strategies that prevent respiratory viruses, such as handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes, also prevent the M. Pneumonia bacteria from spreading, the CDC says.
Although on the rise, M. Pneumoniae infections are common, with an estimated 2 million infections occurring each year in the US. The true number of people affected every year, however, is unknown as there's no national reporting or dedicated surveillance system to track these infections.
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