Your opinion on this

[thereishope]

What is everyone's opinion on this Fact Sheet? I found it online. Do you think it's good enough to pass around? One thing I have a problem with is it states that children under 5 may not have symptoms but not other age groups. So, that's one clause to be added....PITAND and PANDAS kids in all age groups have been known to be asymptomatic.

 

http://www.edcp.org/factsheets/mycopl.cfm

 

Mycoplasma Fact Sheet

 

 

Mycoplasma is a type of bacteria

Mycoplasma can cause sore throat, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

 

Mycoplasma is usually spread from person-to-person through the air and by direct contact

 

Mycoplasma is found in the throat of infected persons and is spread to other people through the air by sneezing or coughing. It can also be spread by touching tissues or other things recently soiled by secretions from the nose or throat of an infected person.

 

People of any age can get Mycoplasma

 

Children under 5 years usually have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. The illness is recognized more in school-age children and young adults. Occasionally, epidemics can occur, especially in military populations and institutions (colleges, for example) where people live in close quarters. These occur more often in late summer or fall.

 

Symptoms to look for include:

 

Headache

Tiredness

Cough, often in spasms

Chest discomfort

Sore throat

Fever

Symptoms start from 6 to 32 days after exposure. The illness can last from a few days to a month or more (especially coughing). Complications do not happen often. No one knows how long an infected person remains contagious, but it is probably less than 20 days.

 

Mycoplasma pneumonia is usually diagnosed by blood tests and x-ray of the chest

 

Treatment is available

 

The disease can be treated with antibiotics. While antibiotics help an infected person to feel better faster, they do not remove the bacteria from the throat. Mycoplasma can remain in the throat for as long as 13 weeks.

 

Steps to take to prevent the spread of Mycoplasma infection

 

Cover the mouth when coughing or sneezing.

Use tissues when coughing, sneezing, and wiping or blowing the nose and throw them away.

Wash hands after coughing, sneezing, and wiping or blowing the nose.

Avoid crowded living and sleeping quarters whenever possible.

Edited April 4, 2010 by Vickie

[JAG10]

Vickie,

 

My d10 was positve for myco-p on recent bloodwork. I think this was from 3 years prior when she was in 1st gr. What sticks out most in my mind about that illness was no fever and the cough that lasted WEEKS AND WEEKS!!! Interestingly, now whenever she gets a cough it can transform into a compulsion/tic behavior where you can tell she is just coughing more than necessary, but this too usually only lasts a few weeks. Her CBT therapist said this was very common in kiddos with OCD.

 

Jill