Mycoplasma circulates in society throughout the year, but the last few months have seen an unusually high peak. Above all, it is young people and adults up to the age of 30 who are affected, and most of them get a mild illness that goes away on its own.
However, some get pneumonia, which can require hospital care – and it is only these cases that are included in the statistics. According to the National Board of Health and Welfare's statistics, there were around 500 cases in September, compared to 200, which was the highest monthly figure before the pandemic.
The likely explanation for why we are seeing many sick people now is that mycoplasma hardly spread at all during the first year of the pandemic. This has led to a decrease in immunity in society, says state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén, who is also an infectious disease doctor and professor at the Sahlgrenska Academy.
Coughing for weeks
Most people do not become seriously ill from mycoplasma. But it can be troublesome anyway with a persistent cough. A cough that can last for weeks, sometimes months.
The bacteria spread mainly when you cough, and the infectivity is highest at the beginning of the illness and decreases gradually over time, says Gisslén.
The incubation period for mycoplasma is quite long, it can take two to three weeks from the time of infection to the onset of illness. Therefore, it is very difficult to limit the spread of the bacteria.
If you feel sick and have a fever, you should stay at home, especially during the first few days. Otherwise, it is usually not necessary, says Gisslén.
Probably less ahead
It is likely that after a peak, we will return to more normal levels of mycoplasma in society. But whether the same spread will occur next year is impossible to say yet. It may require more peaks before a normal situation is reached.
There is no vaccine against mycoplasma. Those who develop pneumonia are usually treated with antibiotics, but ordinary penicillin, which is used against many other pneumonias, does not help. Penicillin attacks the bacteria's cell wall, which mycoplasma lacks.
Common symptoms are fever, cough, and headache.
The infection is transmitted as airborne droplet infection.
Larger outbreaks in society occur approximately every fourth year.
The incubation period is two to three weeks.
About one in ten who are infected develop pneumonia.
Those who get mycoplasma develop limited immunity, but they can fall ill several times during their lifetime.
There is no vaccine against mycoplasma.
Source: The Public Health Agency
