Children experiencing prolonged coughs for several weeks might be suffering from a type of walking pneumonia that has seen a notable increase in the United States this year, necessitating a different antibiotic treatment, according to experts in infectious diseases. Mycoplasma pneumoniae on rise There has been a significant rise in cases of pneumonia in children since early summer, specifically related to this variant. This form of pneumonia is caused by the Mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a surge in cases this year, especially among preschool-aged children.
The CDC issued a bulletin to inform parents and healthcare professionals about the increase in infections last week. Walking Pneumonia is one of several respiratory infections that have doctors concerned this fall. Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, has seen five times the number of cases compared to the same time last year, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also on the rise in various regions of the United States.
CDC monitoring Walking Pneumonia The CDC pointed out that it is crucial to be aware of the trend in Walking Pneumonia infections, as first-line antibiotics for children, such as amoxicillin and penicillin, are ineffective against this type of bacteria. Fortunately, other antibiotics like azithromycin are typically effective for treatment. The CDC’s monitoring of discharge data and test results revealed a significant rise in the.