Fort Worth, TX - Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth reports a significant increase in Mycoplasma pneumonia cases, raising concerns about the spread of this bacterial infection among children.
Key Details:
- Cook Children's Medical Center reported 80 out of 398 patients tested positive for Mycoplasma pneumonia last week, a 20% positivity rate.
- The number of cases this year is much higher than in the past five years, with up to 100 cases in late June.
- The infection spreads through respiratory droplets, commonly at summer camps and swimming pools.
Cook Children's Medical Center has seen a dramatic rise in Mycoplasma pneumonia cases, commonly known as "walking pneumonia." This bacterial infection has surged to unprecedented levels, with 80 out of 398 patients testing positive last week, compared to a 0% positivity rate at the same time last year.
Children are likely spreading the bacteria in close contact situations such as summer camps and swimming pools. While Mycoplasma pneumonia is treatable at home for most children, about 10% of cases can be severe, especially in children with pre-existing conditions like asthma.
Severe symptoms include prolonged coughing, fever, and difficulty breathing. Parents should seek medical care if these symptoms persist.
“Mycoplasma can actually start very slowly and live inside your body with not a lot of inflammation at first,” explained Dr. Nicholas Rister, an infectious disease specialist at Cook Children's.
The significant spike in Mycoplasma pneumonia cases at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth highlights the importance of awareness and preventive measures.
Parents should monitor their children for symptoms and seek medical care if necessary to ensure timely treatment and prevent the spread of this infection.