The Brief
- Several states are reporting an uptick in lung infections in young children caused by a common bacteria.
- In previous years, most pneumonia or acute bronchitis infections caused by M. pneumoniae were found in school-aged children and teens.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking a notable rise in “walking pneumonia” and acute bronchitis cases in young children.
According to the CDC, respiratory infections caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae have increased in the U.S. over the past six months, particularly among young children. In previous years, most pneumonia or acute bronchitis infections caused by the bacteria were found in school-aged children and teens.
The infections appear to have peaked in late August. A CDC spokesperson told CBS News that the highest rates of infection are in two regions in the middle of the country, from Texas through Iowa. Other states are sounding the alarm, too, including Wisconsin and Illinois.
What is Mycoplasma pneumoniae?
Mycoplasma is a bacterium that can infect different parts of the body. M. pneumoniae is a type of Mycoplasma bacteria that can damage the lining of the respiratory tract, including the throat, windpipe and lungs.…