Signs and Symptoms

Children who get Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection usually have signs that appear more like a cold than pneumonia.
In general, infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae are mild. Once someone becomes infected with the bacteria, symptoms usually appear after 1 to 4 weeks.
Symptoms depend on the type of infection. The most common type of infection is tracheobronchitis (chest cold), but pneumonia (lung infection) can occur.
Common symptoms of a chest cold include:
- Sore throat
- Feeling tired
- Fever
- Slowly worsening cough that can last for weeks or months
- Headache
Common symptoms of pneumonia include:
- Cough that may produce mucus
- Fever and chills
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Feeling tired
Children younger than 5 years old could have symptoms that are different from older children, and may have the following cold-like symptoms:
- Sneezing
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Sore throat
- Watery eyes
- Wheezing
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Page last reviewed: June 5, 2020