Pediatric pneumonia cases are on the rise. Here’s what parents should know
Bacterial pneumonia cases are on the rise in young children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pneumonia, a common lung infection, can be caused by multiple sources, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. However, the CDC says cases caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae has been increasing in the last six months "since late spring and have remained high" and has been impacting children in particular.
More cases caused by M. pneumoniae in younger children are especially "notable," the CDC said in an Oct. 18 notice.
According to the CDC, cases have risen from about 1% to over 7% in 2 to 4-year-olds and from about 3% to over 7% in older children between 5 and 17 years old.
"That might not seem like a lot," ABC News medical contributor Dr. Darien Sutton said on "Good Morning America" of the increase in cases. "But we're at the beginning of this viral season so we have yet to know what to expect."
Why should parents be concerned about pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae?
According to the CDC, cases of M. pneumoniae infections appear the most often in children between 5 and 17 and young adults.
"Walking pneumonia can be caused by a couple of different things but with pediatrics, it's most commonly caused by this bacteria called Mycoplasma," Sutton said, later adding that this type of pneumonia can take up to six weeks to recover from.
What are the symptoms of bacterial pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae?
M. pneumoniae can cause damage to the respiratory tract lining, including the throat, trachea, and lungs.
Symptoms of M. pneumoniae infection resemble that of a chest cold and can include fever, cough, and a sore throat but in some cases, can also lead to what's known as "walking pneumonia," where the symptoms appear mild.
With kids under 5, M. pneumoniae infections can cause different symptoms than the chest cold symptoms older kids and adults may experience. They include:
- Diarrhea
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Vomiting
- Watery eyes
- Wheezing
"Any kid younger than 5 are also prone to what we call nonspecific symptoms that may easily mimic other types of infections and will be different than what we see in that older population," said Dr. Jade Cobern, a pediatrician and member of the ABC News Medical Unit. "In this younger age group, it can be common for these kids to have really generalized symptoms that may not involve the respiratory tract at all."
If someone has a serious case, they may require hospitalization. Symptoms of more serious infections include worsening asthma, new development of asthma, severe pneumonia or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
"This type of infection can have a very slow onset and symptoms can last longer than what we see in other types of pneumonia. And so, if kids are having symptoms that really just aren't getting better, if they're having any difficulty breathing, they need to be seen right away," Cobern said.
What are general pneumonia symptoms in kids?
Other types of pneumonia may have similar to slightly different symptoms from pneumonia cases cased by M. pneumoniae. They include:
- Chest pain when breathing or coughing
- Altered mental status (confusion)
- Cough
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Fever or chills
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
How does an M. pneumoniae infection spread?
An M. pneumoniae infection can be contagious. When a sick person coughs or sneezes, bacteria in the respiratory droplets can be exhaled and someone else can inhale the bacteria.
What is the treatment for bacterial pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae?
Some people with M. pneumoniae infections can recover on their own and over-the-counter medications may provide relief from symptoms.
Others, though, may require medications, such as certain antibiotics called macrolides.
M. pneumonia is naturally resistant to some antibiotics that are commonly used to treat other types of bacterial pneumonia.
How can M. pneumoniae infections be prevented?
The CDC recommends practicing good hygiene to prevent bacterial pneumonia infections, including washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes.
"This is an infectious, contagious organism so you want to make sure that you're wearing a mask, washing your hands," Sutton said. "But if you are at risk -- for example, young children under the age of 2, adults older than 65, those who are immunocompromised -- you want to get examined because you might be a candidate for antibiotics to help treat your infection."
