November 7, 2024- Levels of ‘walking pneumonia,’ a lung infection, have been rising at a rate 10 times greater than at this time last year, according to the Wall Street Journal and the CDC. The CDC issued a report alerting the American public to the 2024 rise in cases. The CDC stated that respiratory infections caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae have increased in the United States, especially in young children, and is urging healthcare providers to consider testing for the illness.
The M. pneumoniae discharge diagnosis data from March 31 through October 5, 2024, show an increase among all age groups across the United States, peaking in August, and remaining high, according to the CDC.
According to the CDC, M. pneumoniae infections are generally mild and mostly present as a chest cold but may also present as pneumonia. Symptom onset is typically gradual and can include fever, cough, and a sore throat. When an M. pneumoniae infection progresses to pneumonia, it’s typically a less severe form of bacterial pneumonia commonly referred to as “walking pneumonia.”