User:JudeAVM/Mycoplasma pneumonia

Epidemiology
The prevalence of M. pneumonia is greater among children than adults. Many adults remain asymptomatic, while children typically do not.

Rates of M. pneumonia in all global community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) cases range from 10-15%. The rate of M. pneumonia in adults with CAP is estimated to be 15%, and the rate of in children with CAP has been reported at 27.4%. The rates of M. pneumonia among hospitalized CAP cases are 35% in adults and 24% in children. Rates of hospitalizations among adults increase with age. M. pneumonia has been shown to act as a trigger for other lung diseases.

Cases of M. pneumonia may be unreported due to patients with little or no symptoms not seeking medical care. On a global scale, differences in lab techniques and sampling methods can also impact the reported number of cases.

M. pneumonia can be spread by droplets and aerosols, typically from an infected person coughing or sneezing. If a person still has a cough, they can remain infectious even after a majority of other symptoms disappear.

Outbreaks follow a 3-7 year cycle. It is thought that factors such as climate, season, and geography have little impact on rates of M. pneumonia. Cases in the United States are more prevalent in the late summer and early fall, while other regions report that seasons did not affect case rate. It is thought that weather events like El Niño can impact the yearly cycles and seasonal difference between continents.