Mycoplasma pneumonia is the cause of up to 20% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia and has also been implicated in some hospital-based epidemics. (1).
Infection occurs at 3- to 5-year intervals and are considered to be polyclonal (2). They chiefly affects children and young adults, causing an atypical pneumonia characterised by an influenza-like respiratory illness of gradual onset with headache, malaise, fever and cough.
Physical findings may be insignificant relative to the radiologic appearance of the pneumonia; some individuals are asymptomatic. Close indoor contact facilitates spread with younger people and smokers at increased risk.
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