Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses or fungus. Mycoplasma Pneumonia is a bacterial organism which infects the lungs and the air passages. The organism is commonly involved in causing a community acquired type of pneumonia which is not as severe as some of the other pneumonias. The nature of the illness is such it will subside after few weeks on its own if there are no other complications.

The Mycoplasma bacterium shows few significant differences that argue against it being a bacterium as well as being a virus. When we consider a bacterium, usually it consists of a cell wall. But, the Mycoplasma Pneumonia does not posses a cell wall. Viruses on the other hand require a host cell in order to multiply it self. When we consider the Mycoplasma Bacteria, it does not require a host cell in order to proliferate. These two features will put the Mycoplasma Bacteria in an in-between status compared to viruses and the bacteria.

Mycoplasma seems to interfere with the ciliary movement of the bronchial epithelial cells. The disruption of the ciliary movement will make the lungs unable to send infective organisms as well as secretions to the outside. The Mycoplasmas ability to secrete a chemical known as Hydrogen Peroxide also seems to be involved with the destruction caused by the Mycoplasma. With a unique filamentous structure, the Mycoplasma bacteria is able to burrow in between these cillia of the epithelial sells.

The Pneumonia caused by the Mycoplasma is non specific. It will show the following symptoms:

1. Dry cough

The secretion of hydrogen peroxide and the epithelial cell death seems to be associated with the cough. It's a prolonged and gradual onset cough without any sputum being produced. The complaint is most likely to be a worsening as well as a dry cough.

2. Fever

Most probably the fever will be associated with chills and sometimes it will be a mild fever lasting for a longer duration.

3. Headache and Malaise

4. Pleuritic chest pain

A pain in the chest will appear with breathing and will be a non specific symptom

5. Sore throat

All these symptoms are non specific and are difficult to diagnose.

Diagnosis of the illness is based mainly on history, examination and investigations. The usual blood tests would not be very much helpful other than to exclude any other illnesses that can be underlying the pneumonia.

The mainstay of diagnosis is the Mycoplasma antibodies using serum test and if available the Mycoplasma Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

The treatment is mainly aimed at antibiotic therapy as well as other supportive treatment. The symptoms might persist for a longer time, even after the disease process has subsided.

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