What is walking pneumonia and why does it seem to be on the rise? – CBC

Pediatric hospitals across Canada, the U.S. are reporting an uptick in cases

Nov 03, 2024

Mycoplasma pneumoniae, also known as walking pneumonia, is generally a mild bacterial infection that largely affects children and teens and can commonly be treated with antibiotics.

The infection got its informal name because people infected with it are generally not as ill as those with other types of pneumonia.

“It’s called walking pneumonia because many people aren’t sick enough to be flat out on their back at home or in a hospital,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital.

“Many people can carry on about their daily routine feeling crummy but not sick enough to be staying at home. Having said that, that’s just a colloquial term, and of course we know it can make some people very sick.”

In October, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a rise in cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, especially in young children. The increase started in the late spring, and case counts have remained high.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/walking-pneumonia-cases-canada-1.7371274