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