Surge in Walking Pneumonia Among U.S. Children Linked to Mycoplasma Bacteria

This year, a spike in “walking pneumonia” cases caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria has alarmed U.S. health experts as more children experience prolonged, stubborn coughs. With cases rising, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has alerted parents and doctors to watch for this infection, particularly as traditional antibiotics like amoxicillin prove ineffective against it.

Dr. Buddy Creech, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University, noted a significant uptick in cases since early summer, with children experiencing symptoms such as low fever, headaches, and a dry cough that worsens over weeks. By August, Nashville-area doctors had flagged an unusual number of pediatric pneumonia cases unresponsive to standard treatments, prompting a closer examination.

Mycoplasma bacteria spread easily through respiratory droplets, making children in schools and other close-contact settings vulnerable. CDC data shows that ER visits for pneumonia due to Mycoplasma in children ages 2 to 4 have spiked sevenfold from April to October, from 1% to 7.2%. The rise is part of a global trend, with similar surges reported in China, Denmark, and France over the past year.

New multiplex tests now allow for faster and more accurate detection of Mycoplasma infections, helping doctors choose effective antibiotics like azithromycin. With these tools, clinicians hope to manage this challenging bacterial infection effectively. The CDC expects case numbers to remain high in the near term before possibly easing in late fall.