Mycoplasma Pneumonia Cases Surge in Triangle Area
Source: MoCA / MoCA
It may be time to pull the masks back out.
Mycoplasma pneumonia, commonly known as “atypical pneumonia” or “walking pneumonia,” is causing a rise in hospital visits for children in the Triangle area.
Dr. Zachary Willis, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at UNC Children’s, noted that this uptick in cases is “unusual,” with symptoms like persistent fever or cough signaling potential pneumonia.
In children, pneumonia often presents as:
- fever
- cough
- rapid or deep breathing
- wheezing
- chest or stomach pain
- vomiting
- chills.
Dr. Zachary Willis, UNC Children’s pediatric infectious disease specialist, encourages parents to be vigilant, especially as cases have unexpectedly increased among younger children, some as young as two years old. Although most children recover on their own, antibiotics are effective against mycoplasma pneumonia, though no vaccine currently exists
UNC Hospitals reported 40 cases of mycoplasma pneumonia in the last week of October 2024, compared to zero cases at the same time last year.