Mycoplasma in Children

Located in the throats of infected individuals, mycoplasma is a contagious bacterium that may cause your child to experience a range of respiratory symptoms and complications following infection. Being familiar with the facts about mycoplasma infection in children will help you reduce your little one's chances of developing this health condition.

• Crowded group activities in schools contribute to your child's risk of developing mycoplasma.

The Facts

• Commonly called mycoplasma, the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) can cause an infection of the lungs in people of all ages, but occurs most frequently in school-aged children and young adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mycoplasma causes more cases of pneumonia in school-aged children than any other infection. Infection occurs after your child comes in contact with the respiratory fluids of an infected individual, often through sneezing or coughing; the incubation period may last as long as four weeks.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of mycoplasma typically develop after the incubation period of the infection. According to the Maryland Community Health Administration, children under the age of 5 often show either extremely mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Symptoms often include a fever, dry cough (frequently occurring in spasms), a headache, excessive fatigue, chest pain, a sore throat and bronchitis (inflammation of your child's bronchial tubes). Your child's symptoms may last for as few as three days or as long as four weeks, depending upon the severity of the infection.

Complications

• Mycoplasma infection often results in pneumonia and middle ear infections. The New York State Department of Health states that pneumonia resulting from mycoplasma infection is often referred to as "walking pneumonia," since it is not typically severe. Make sure you follow your doctor's treatment directions exactly in order to minimize your child's chances of having his pneumonia worsen. A middle ear infection (otitis media) is characterized by the presence of ear pain and excessive irritability and should be treated promptly to reduce the chances of developing hearing loss.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Depending upon your child's symptoms and the results of a physical exam, the doctor may perform a blood test to clarify the exact cause of the infection. If he suspects mycoplasma pneumonia, he will most likely conduct a chest X-ray as well. Since mycoplasma is a bacterium, your child's doctor will typically use an antibiotic for treatment. Although antibiotics can relieve your little one's symptoms, the bacteria itself may remain in your child's throat for weeks afterwards. Other important comfort measures include lots of rest and fluids.

Prevention/Solution

• Practicing good hygiene will go a long way in keeping your child from developing a mycoplasma infection. Teach your little one to wash her hands frequently, cover her mouth when coughing, and use a tissue when blowing her nose. One major risk factor of developing a mycoplasma infection is crowded conditions such as those in a school; avoiding crowded school functions whenever possible, especially during the late summer and fall, reduces your child's chances of developing a mycoplasma infection.