Mycoplasma pneumonia Causes and Risks:
Pneumonia is a very common serious illness, affecting 1 out of 100 people. It is caused by many different organisms and can range in seriousness from mild to life-threatening illness.
Mycoplasma pneumonia is the most common cause of atypical pneumonia and affects those under 40 most commonly. Various studies suggest that it causes 15-50% of all pneumonia in adults and an even higher percentage of the pneumonia in school-aged children. Symptomatic infection in children less than 4 years of age is uncommon. Mycoplasma pneumonia is frequently spread within the family and may affect all the family members. The incubation period is 1 to 3 weeks.
Symptoms generally appear as an upper respiratory infection and progress to pneumonia or tracheobronchitis . Mycoplasma may also be responsible for a sore throat ( pharyngitis ) and earache (a specific type called bullous myringitis ). Infected individuals often feel much worse than they look. The incidence of Mycoplasma pneumonia is about 4 cases per 1000 individuals per year.
Prevention:
Infants and people in poor health should avoid those with Mycoplasma pneumonia.
Symptoms:
Other less frequently seen symptoms
Signs and Tests:
A physical examination may reveal enlarged lymph nodes and inflammation of the eardrum. An examination of the chest with a stethoscope ( auscultation ) reveals crackles.
These tests help confirm the diagnosis:
Treatment:
The objective of treatment is to control the infection with antibiotics. Erythromycin and tetracycline are commonly prescribed. Tetracycline is not used in children under 12 years of age so they are treated with erythromycin. Adults may be treated with either tetracycline or erythromycin. Home or self-care includes rest and a high-protein diet with adequate fluids.
Note: oral tetracycline is usually not prescribed for children until after all the permanent teeth have erupted; it can permanently discolor teeth that are still forming.
Prognosis:
The probable outcome is good with treatment. In untreated adults, long-term cough and weakness can persist for up to a month.
Complications:
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of Mycoplasma pneumonia occur. Also call if you have been treated for this disorder and symptoms of complications develop.
This is an illustration of the major features of the lungs and bronchial tree. The inset is of the alveoli. They are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.
Erythema multiforme - close-up of the hands: These lesions are circular and may appear in concentric rings (often called target lesions). They may be associated with other medical conditions such as the herpes infection, streptococcal infection, tuberculosis (TB), or as a reaction to chemicals or medications.
Erythema multiforme lesions are circular and may appear in concentric rings (often called target lesions). Target lesions may also be associated with other medical conditions such as herpes infection, streptococcal infection, tuberculosis (TB), or as a reaction to chemicals or medications.
Erythema multiforme lesions are circular and may appear in concentric rings (often called target lesions). When erythema multiforme affects the mouth and mucous membranes, it is called erythema multiforme major or Steven's Johnson Syndrome.
Erythema multiforme lesions are often referred to as target lesions because of the concentric rings the lesions produce. The "target" appearance is well demonstrated in this photograph.
The red spots on this person's back appear where blisters (bullae) caused by Erythema multiforme have ruptured and the overlying skin removed (denuded). The resulting lesions are yellow-crusted ulcers (erosions). Erythema multiforme may be associated with herpes simplex infection, mycoplasma pneumonia, or other medical conditions such as streptococcal infection, tuberculosis (TB), or may result from exposure to chemicals or medications.
This picture shows diffuse redness (erythema) and scaling on the arm.
|
