Mycoplasma pneumonia is a form of pneumonia which only affects humans. The infection grows within the respiratory system causing a lot of irritation. The bacteria causing this disease are called Mycoplasma pneumonia. This bacterium only attacks a certain age group, which is below forty years. School going kids are more prone to contracting this infection since the bacteria generally attacks and thrives in groups.
The regular and intimate interaction enables the bacteria to grow and infect easier and faster. Symptoms of this infection manifest within the first week or two. The symptoms are generally very mild and commonly mistaken as a general flu or a common cold. The chest infection is accompanied with a headache. Other symptoms include chest pain, high fever and a dry cough that causes the patient real discomfort. The fever in Mycoplasma pneumonia is usually high and accompanied with sweating and a sore throat.
In some cases, a rash appears on the skin and the patient suffers muscle ache, with stiffness in the joints. Some patients of Mycoplasma pneumonia also experience a lump like feeling in the throat. All these signs call for a complete check up and X rays to diagnose the disease well in time. In the year 1898, Mycoplasma pneumonia was first detected in cattle! Later on in 1938, scientists found out that the infection also thrives in the human body.
However, at that time the onslaught was rare in human beings. The peculiarity of this particular infection is that it thrives within interaction between people. In 1944 a scientist named Eaton discovered the agent of cause of the illness. The pleomorphic organism that causes Mycoplasma pneumonia does not have a cell wall. It is in direct contrast to other viruses. It can replicate without any definite host. The cough that accompanies Mycoplasma pneumonia is usually prolonged and spastic in nature.
The cause of the cough is the irritation caused by the movement of the bacteria within the ciliary organ. The motility rate of the organism is quite high. It has tips which are filamentous, allowing the organism to burrow into the cilia present in the epithelium of the respiratory organs. The organism has a dual property; first is resemblance to the components of the human respiratory system and the other, to generate hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide created is actually responsible for the irritation within the cells in the epithelial region of the respiratory tract. This also leads to damage of the erythrocyte membranes. Mycoplasma pneumonia has no affinity with an older age group, literally forty onwards. It is difficult for a person to fight this infection without taking medical help. Many a times, the body does not respond to antibiotics.
After a course of antibiotics, there may be relief, but only temporarily. However, soon fatigue sets in and the symptoms recur in a more elaborate form. The patient needs to drink at least six to eight glasses of water every six hours and is advised complete bed rest, till the symptoms abate and recovery is in sight.
Tags: antibiotic, Causes, mycoplasma, Mycoplasma Pneumonia, respiratory system, sore throat, throat