Did you get sicker than normal this flu season? Did you go to the doctor, only to be told it wasn’t the flu, COVID or even RSV? It may have been mycoplasma pneumonia, also known as ‘walking pneumonia’ as Australia is seeing a spike in case numbers at the moment.
Like many other Aussies, I contracted a nasty cold over the winter months that gave me a sharp, painful cough and a nose running like a tap that lasted for weeks. I went to my GP, who tested for flu, COVID and RSV – and all came up negative.
I was sent away to endure my symptoms with Codral and bed rest. Talking to friends and family, my situation was not unique. Many people are reporting heavy flu symptoms, but not testing positive for other respiratory illnesses.
It turns out the culprit, at least in some cases, may be mycoplasma pneumonia, also known as ‘walking pneumonia’, a slightly milder form of pneumonia that nevertheless still packs quite a punch.
Typical symptoms of include fever, dry cough, sore throat, fatigue, headache, lethargy, and shortness of breath
And it seems Australia is having a bit of a spike in case numbers this year, particularly among children. Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure I contracted my sickness from my young nephew, who caught it at daycare.
Professor Adrian Esterman, chair of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of South Australia, told newsGP spikes in mycoplasma pneumonia cases happen every few years and are part of the normal disease cycle.
“Outbreaks occur every 3–7 years, and seasonality is not a major factor,” he said.
“GPs should also be aware of potential, but uncommon, complications like encephalitis, myocarditis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.”
Searching social media, and it seems many people out there are seeing this nasty infection move through their families and social groups, if this Reddit thread is anything to go by.
“My 10yo had it in March,” says one user.
“He was bedridden for two weeks, lost over 10 per cent of his body weight, SPO2 [oxygen saturation levels] hit 91 per cent at the GP office, went to the ED, and we had to have hospital outpatients follow up. My 8yo had it as well, though less severe.”
“My 3yo spent 17 nights in hospital with this in March. Had to have a tube inserted to drain fluid her chest. Awful,” said another.
Cases may be booming in children, but they are passing them on to the adults in their lives.
“Had this at nine months pregnant, not my favourite time,” one woman responded.
“It ripped through my workplace, hospitalised a number of co-workers, I managed to successfully avoid catching it from them, only to catch it from my kindy kid. It proceeded to run through my whole family of six.
And some have even ended up in hospital.
“I had some sort of pneumonia early in the year,” one user says.
“Had to be on oxygen and heavy antibiotics in hospital. It was the worst I had ever felt.”
Do you think you might’ve had mycoplasma pneumonia this year? Have you been sicker than usual? Let us know in the comments section below.
Also read: Why men may not be exaggerating when it comes to man flu
