Mycoplasma pneumonia

Reviewed by Dr Dan Rutherford, GP

What is a mycoplasma pneumonia?

The micro-organism Mycoplasma pneumoniae can cause pneumonia, though it is possible to be infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae without necessarily developing pneumonia.

What causes a mycoplasma pneumonia infection?

Anyone in contact with a secretion (such as phlegm) from the respiratory passages of an infected person risks contracting the mycoplasma organism. However, close contact is required for transmission, so the bacteria is more commonly found among members of the same family and in schools and day-care institutions. There is little point in isolating someone infected with the virus since some people carry the infection without feeling ill.

Mycoplasma infections are most common in the 5 to 20 age range, though the disease is usually more dangerous among the middle-aged and elderly. An epidemic occurs every three to five years.

What does a mycoplasma pneumonia infection feel like?

It takes two to three weeks from the time of infection for the following symptoms to appear:

headaches

muscle pain

aching throat

dry cough, which may last for weeks

slightly raised temperature, though it should be noted that a high fever could still be a mycoplasma infection.

Around 10 per cent of cases will go on to develop pneumonia.

What should the patient do?

The patient should consult their GP if they observe any of the above symptoms, especially if their fever lasts for more than a couple of days. Taking painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen may reduce the fever symptoms. A patient reporting breathing difficulties should be treated at the emergency department.

How does the doctor make the diagnosis?

The doctor will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope - an infection will produce abnormal sounds. This examination may, however, indicate no problems even when pneumonia is actually present.

An X-ray examination of the lungs will usually confirm a diagnosis of mycoplasma pneumonia. The doctor may also take blood samples and check for mycoplasma antibodies.

It is also possible to check phlegm for DNA remnants of the mycoplasma, but this is not usually necessary.

What is the prognosis?

The infection should pass within a week unless it causes pneumonia, in which case it will be present for several weeks.

If the patient is otherwise in good health the disease is not as dangerous as a normal pneumonia and rarely results in more serious complications.

How is a mycoplasma infection treated?

If the infection causes pneumonia it will be treated with antibiotics. Otherwise, the infection should clear up by itself within a week.

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