Cases Of 'Walking Pneumonia' Spike Among Children: What To Know In CA

CALFORNIA— It’s possible the persistent cough that has been nagging your child for weeks is a type of "walking pneumonia" that has been surging this year, especially in young children.

The percentage of children ages 2-4 who have been diagnosed with this common type of pneumonia grew from 1 percent to 7.2 percent from March 31 to Oct. 5, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency said the increase is "notable" because the bacteria that causes it — Mycoplasma pneumoniae — historically hasn’t been recognized as a leading cause of pneumonia in this age group.

The bacteria is easily spread by coughing or sneezing, and while respiratory infections are generally mild, serious complications can also develop.

Below are things California parents need to know about Mycoplasma pneumonia:

What Is Walking Pneumonia?

Walking pneumonia is a colloquial term for atypical pneumonia—that is, mild lung infections whose symptoms are similar to a chest cold, including a sore throat, sneezing, coughing, headache, mild chills, and low-grade fever.

People with walking pneumonia generally feel well enough to go about their lives.

Unlike “regular” pneumonia, which is caused by various microorganisms, usually bacteria and viruses, walking pneumonia is caused by the difficult-to-detect bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

People of any age can develop walking pneumonia, but it is most common among children ages 5-17 and young adults. Younger children may have different symptoms, including diarrhea, wheezing, or vomiting.

How Common Is Walking Pneumonia?

An estimated 2 million infections are confirmed every year in the United States, but the CDC said the true number of people who are affected every year is unknown, as there is no national reporting or dedicated surveillance system for tracking.

The CDC data from March 31 through Oct. 5 showed that young children were getting sick at higher rates and that diagnoses among all age groups increased. Although infection rates are highest among young children, the number of kids ages 5-17 diagnosed with walking pneumonia increased from 3.6 percent to 7.4 percent from March 31 through Oct. 5.

The CDC also examines lab data showing how frequently patients test positive for walking pneumonia infections. The positivity rate for all age groups has increased from 0.7 percent to 3.3 percent since late spring.

Will Antibiotics Take Care Of It?

First-line antibiotics for children, including amoxicillin and penicillin, don’t work on this type of pneumonia. Instead, the CDC recommends macrolides, such as azithromycin, clarithromycin and erythromycin. Patients who don’t improve may need second-line treatments, such as fluoroquinolones or tetracyclines.

Why Are Cases Increasing Now?

Although Mycoplasma infection rates are now more in line with pre-pandemic levels, it has not exceeded them.

"It seems very dramatic now, but it’s more because during the peak of the Covid pandemic, just about everything else went down," Dr. Geoffrey Weinberg, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, told CNN. "But the actual countrywide rates are fairly similar to what it was before 2019."

According to the CNN report, most infections run in cycles, meaning some years are worse than others. Mycoplasma pneumonia rates tend to spike every three to seven years as people lose immunity to the virus.

Testing is more advanced now. Multiplex tests can check for multiple types of viruses and bacteria simultaneously, so doctors may detect them more often, according to health experts.

Patch requested information Tuesday from the California Department of Public Health on whether the Golden State has seen an increase in cases in young children. This post will be updated if we hear back.

What Else Can Be Done?

The bacteria can remain in the body for one to four weeks before a person gets sick. According to the CDC, this type of pneumonia easily spreads through crowded settings, such as schools, college dorms, and nursing homes.

One of the best ways to control its spread is to practice good hand-washing and other hygiene techniques, such as coughing into a sleeve.