[Health Tip] If Your Child's Cough Persists... Suspect This Disease

Mycoplasma pneumonia is a disease caused by infection with bacteria called Mycoplasma. Recently, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has issued an epidemic advisory as the number of patients is showing an increasing trend again, requiring caution. In particular, Mycoplasma pneumonia has an incubation period of about 1 to 3 weeks and the epidemic period can last for about a year, so it is pointed out that more attention should be paid.

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Mycoplasma pneumonia mainly occurs in school-age children and adolescents. In fact, it has been reported that 75% of patients hospitalized with Mycoplasma pneumonia in Korea were children under 12 years old. However, since it is a disease that can also occur in adults, it is pointed out that patients with chronic respiratory diseases, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems should never be complacent.

Professor Shim Jeong-yeon of the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescents at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital explained, “In the early stages, Mycoplasma pneumonia presents symptoms similar to a cold, such as sore throat and fever, and coughing begins after a day or two. A way to distinguish it from a simple cold is that the fever and cough persist over time, and the amount of food intake decreases.” Mycoplasma pneumonia cough can persist for weeks to months even after the fever subsides and can be a cause of chronic cough. Additionally, symptoms other than pneumonia may accompany, such as skin rashes like urticaria, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, elevated liver enzymes, meningitis, and encephalitis.

Until now, Mycoplasma pneumonia has occurred in Korea in cycles of every 3 to 4 years. However, it is pointed out that caution is needed as antibiotic-resistant strains are gradually increasing.

In terms of treatment, most patients with Mycoplasma pneumonia have a good clinical course, but if infected with antibiotic-resistant strains, pneumonia may worsen without appropriate treatment, leading to pleural effusion or respiratory distress. Also, if fever persists for a long time due to an excessive immune response to the bacteria, immunosuppressants such as steroids may be required, so it is essential to visit a hospital and receive proper treatment.

Professor Shim advised, “If the first-line antibiotic macrolide is administered and after 48 to 72 hours there is no improvement in symptoms such as fever and cough, and chest radiography shows no improvement or worsening of pneumonia, it should be considered macrolide antibiotic resistance and switched to a second-line antibiotic.” She also emphasized, “Along with fundamental treatment using antibiotics, sufficient rest and hydration are very important. When a patient occurs in schools or families with close contact, new pneumonia patients can appear at intervals of 1 to 3 weeks, so thorough personal hygiene is crucial to prevent the disease.”