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Mycoplasma pneumonia is a microscopic organism that causes walking pneumonia. The disease is contagious and can be transmitted through prolonged contact with an infected individual. The mode of transmission of walking pneumonia is through airborne droplets, which are expelled out of an infected person as he talks, sneezes, laughs or coughs.
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Mycoplasma infections are sporadic and are prevalent throughout the year. Mycoplasma infections are common during late summer and fall. Though contagious in nature, Mycoplasma infections are spread slowly in families, schools, and institutions. The ability of an infected person to transmit the disease to a healthy individual is at its peak during the first 20 days of infection.
Pneumonia that is caused by a cold or flu is called 'walking pneumonia'. Pneumonia can lead to symptoms like bad coughing bouts, chills and high fever. If for any reason, your body is immuno-compromised, this type of pneumonia can also pose a serious threat to your life.
Mycoplasma pneumonia affects mainly older children and young adults. Mycoplasma infections occur in widespread community at an interval of 4 to 8 years. Mycoplasma pneumonia is usually mild and does not need hospitalization. It is proven that the transmission of walking pneumonia occurs through prolonged close contact with the infected person. Therefore, most of the transmission may occur within families. However, Mycoplasma pneumonia epidemics may occur every 4 to 5 years and they may involve 50% of the total pneumonia cases.
People that are at high risk of mycoplasma pneumonia contraction are the ones living or working in crowded areas such as orphanages and schools. There might no identifiable risk factor, in most cases of mycoplasma pneumonia infections.
Despite being mild in nature, walking pneumonia infected person may take almost six weeks to recover, even with the help of antibiotics. Walking pneumonia is a complication of flu. One of the important things you can do for your health as well as for others is to get a flu shot. This flu shot will make you immune to walking pneumonia for at least six months. A flu shot also protects you from some forms of influenza that are prevalent in winter. True but sad, a flu shot would not protect you from all forms of influenza or the types that causes respiratory tract infections.
Walking pneumonia is usually a milder manifestation of pneumonia. Although, walking pneumonia is mainly caused by mycoplasma, some atypical bacteria, viruses, or fungi can also cause this disease. Each of these infectious microbial agents has the capability to cause a potentially fatal pneumonia.
The other causes of pneumonia are as follows:
- Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is a fungal infections that is common in people with AIDS
- Pneumonitis – inflammation of the lungs caused by constant inhalation of irritants like chemicals, food, liquids or foreign objects. This can lead to infectious pneumonia.
Running nose is quite a prominent sign and the other symptoms associated with walking pneumonia are cough, fever, body ache and headache. Coughing is usually violent but dry, expelling only a small amount of white mucus. The early symptoms are chills and fever that are followed by nausea and vomiting. Antibiotics (Read about "Antibiotics") prescribed by the doctor may be used to treat mycoplasma pneumonia.
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