Mycoplasm pneumoniae

[Guest guest]

Our son had a positive test for m. pneumoniae (IgM). Any suggestions on the

next step? What is the view on this? How does Dr. G. treat it? Thank

you everyone!

[Guest guest]

You mainly have to have an antibiotic that targets mycoplasma pn., and any

pediatrician should know which ones.  You could also ask if they'd extend

treatment a few days longer.

You should see improvement in a specific cough (right this second I can't

remember if it's a dry raspy cough or a wet one even though I had it 15 years

lol) by the end of the course.  Seems like it might turn from dry to a little

wet - that's fine.  A little mucinex dm or other expectorant (and lots and lots

of water) can help it along - water is really important.

I don't know which antibiotic Dr G uses.  If your kid is under say age 9, you

don't use tetracyclines like doxycycline - you don't use that until all their

teeth are in.  It's what he told me to ask for, though, as an adult, way back

when.  It was the first time in years I didn't wheeze or have bronchial spasms

and a hack.

Then, if 3-5 days after antibiotics are stopped, you start noticing the cough

return, or you hear any wheezing, then it's NOT gone.  Here's where you could

run into problems with a typical doctor, because if I remember correctly, after

the initial treatment, the tests for mycoplasma become less reliable.  You'll

get so many false positives that it's almost not worth testing.  I'm not sure

if

that has improved these days, but that's a problem I used to have.  More and

more doctors around here have become aware of how mycoplasma can get passed

around and around, so when you point out the symptoms are the same, they're more

likely to treat it again.  But if you get a diagnosis of asthma in the next few

months, I'd find a doctor who knows more about it.  I have suggested to so many

parents who's kids were being treated for asthma to request a mycoplasma test,

and the ones who actually did ask, so many were positive it makes me wonder just

how many asthmatics are actually infected.  One girl I met in an ER in

Tennessee

- her mom contacted me a year later and said she hadn't had an asthma attack

since, and they had been in the ER several times a month since she was a little

girl.

I don't say that to scare you.  Truly, don't stress about it and worry that she

won't get rid of it.  Mycoplasma goes around in cycles at my work all the time,

and most people get over it and go on.  There are only 2 people I'm worried

about there who seem to not be getting over it.  It's just always around.  You

just make sure it gets treated, and then be aware of symptoms lasting longer,

and don't always make the assumption that it's just allergies.  It's a very

specific cough, which is why Dr G could recognize it over the phone.  (Gosh -

that might be one of my favorite sentences he ever spoke to me.  I still hear

the tone and I laugh at how indignant he sounded lol!!)  Fortunately once I got

rid of it, I didn't get it again.  It was a heck of a lot easier to get over

than strep.  But it can trigger a milder onset of ocd and brain 'flicker', so

if

you clear it up, you may see some positives.  

Good luck!

________________________________

From: and Freeman <freemanbk@...>

Sent: Sat, December 11, 2010 8:46:28 AM

Subject: Mycoplasm pneumoniae

 

Our son had a positive test for m. pneumoniae (IgM). Any suggestions on the

next step? What is the view on this? How does Dr. G. treat it? Thank

you everyone!

[Guest guest]

Thanks !

My doctor felt that because it was detected in the IgM that it may be from a

previous infection. I went to another doctor today and he Rxd a 10 day round of

Clavulin, 5.7 mls, 3x daily. My guy responded with a yeast attack (as per the

course with Clavulin and our son). So we will see how it goes after 10 days. I

would like to know an accurate way of testing for CURRENT infection with m.

Pneumoniae. Any suggestions, as usual, are always welcomed.

I have read that this can be a systematic infection passed from mother to infant

in birth. Not sure but our son had a LOT of mucus as a baby. I remember thinking

that I wished they would have sucked out the mucus from his nose when he was

born because he went almost the whole first year with this awful wheezing and

stuffy nose...

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Sent: December-12-10 10:08 PM

Subject: Re: Mycoplasm pneumoniae

You mainly have to have an antibiotic that targets mycoplasma pn., and any

pediatrician should know which ones. You could also ask if they'd extend

treatment a few days longer.

You should see improvement in a specific cough (right this second I can't

remember if it's a dry raspy cough or a wet one even though I had it 15 years

lol) by the end of the course. Seems like it might turn from dry to a little

wet - that's fine. A little mucinex dm or other expectorant (and lots and lots

of water) can help it along - water is really important.

I don't know which antibiotic Dr G uses. If your kid is under say age 9, you

don't use tetracyclines like doxycycline - you don't use that until all their

teeth are in. It's what he told me to ask for, though, as an adult, way back

when. It was the first time in years I didn't wheeze or have bronchial spasms

and a hack.

Then, if 3-5 days after antibiotics are stopped, you start noticing the cough

return, or you hear any wheezing, then it's NOT gone. Here's where you could

run into problems with a typical doctor, because if I remember correctly, after

the initial treatment, the tests for mycoplasma become less reliable. You'll

get so many false positives that it's almost not worth testing. I'm not sure if

that has improved these days, but that's a problem I used to have. More and

more doctors around here have become aware of how mycoplasma can get passed

around and around, so when you point out the symptoms are the same, they're more

likely to treat it again. But if you get a diagnosis of asthma in the next few

months, I'd find a doctor who knows more about it. I have suggested to so many

parents who's kids were being treated for asthma to request a mycoplasma test,

and the ones who actually did ask, so many were positive it makes me wonder just

how many asthmatics are actually infected. One girl I met in an ER in Tennessee

- her mom contacted me a year later and said she hadn't had an asthma attack

since, and they had been in the ER several times a month since she was a little

girl.

I don't say that to scare you. Truly, don't stress about it and worry that she

won't get rid of it. Mycoplasma goes around in cycles at my work all the time,

and most people get over it and go on. There are only 2 people I'm worried

about there who seem to not be getting over it. It's just always around. You

just make sure it gets treated, and then be aware of symptoms lasting longer,

and don't always make the assumption that it's just allergies. It's a very

specific cough, which is why Dr G could recognize it over the phone. (Gosh -

that might be one of my favorite sentences he ever spoke to me. I still hear

the tone and I laugh at how indignant he sounded lol!!) Fortunately once I got

rid of it, I didn't get it again. It was a heck of a lot easier to get over

than strep. But it can trigger a milder onset of ocd and brain 'flicker', so if

you clear it up, you may see some positives.

Good luck!

________________________________

From: and Freeman <freemanbk@...

<mailto:freemanbk%40ns.sympatico.ca> >

<mailto:%40>

Sent: Sat, December 11, 2010 8:46:28 AM

Subject: Mycoplasm pneumoniae

Our son had a positive test for m. pneumoniae (IgM). Any suggestions on the

next step? What is the view on this? How does Dr. G. treat it? Thank

you everyone!

[Guest guest]

I think mainly the 'first' most recent infection can be detected by a quick test

in the office, and when they come back positive, doc doesn't much doubt the

infection.  But when you have to run titers, there isn't a way to be sure of

when it was an infection, unless maybe there's an IgM portion...

It's just a hard one to be sure about.  I base it mostly on my wheezing - it's

usually high up in the lungs too.

Not much help.  I don't know much about the test - just how hard it can be

to

get confirmation if you've had it more than the initial onset...

________________________________

From: and Freeman <freemanbk@...>

Sent: Sun, December 12, 2010 9:14:34 PM

Subject: RE: Mycoplasm pneumoniae

 

Thanks !

My doctor felt that because it was detected in the IgM that it may be from a

previous infection. I went to another doctor today and he Rxd a 10 day round of

Clavulin, 5.7 mls, 3x daily. My guy responded with a yeast attack (as per the

course with Clavulin and our son). So we will see how it goes after 10 days. I

would like to know an accurate way of testing for CURRENT infection with m.

Pneumoniae. Any suggestions, as usual, are always welcomed.

I have read that this can be a systematic infection passed from mother to infant

in birth. Not sure but our son had a LOT of mucus as a baby. I remember thinking

that I wished they would have sucked out the mucus from his nose when he was

born because he went almost the whole first year with this awful wheezing and

stuffy nose...

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Sent: December-12-10 10:08 PM

Subject: Re: Mycoplasm pneumoniae

You mainly have to have an antibiotic that targets mycoplasma pn., and any

pediatrician should know which ones. You could also ask if they'd extend

treatment a few days longer.

You should see improvement in a specific cough (right this second I can't

remember if it's a dry raspy cough or a wet one even though I had it 15 years

lol) by the end of the course. Seems like it might turn from dry to a little

wet - that's fine. A little mucinex dm or other expectorant (and lots and lots

of water) can help it along - water is really important.

I don't know which antibiotic Dr G uses. If your kid is under say age 9, you

don't use tetracyclines like doxycycline - you don't use that until all their

teeth are in. It's what he told me to ask for, though, as an adult, way back

when. It was the first time in years I didn't wheeze or have bronchial spasms

and a hack.

Then, if 3-5 days after antibiotics are stopped, you start noticing the cough

return, or you hear any wheezing, then it's NOT gone. Here's where you could

run into problems with a typical doctor, because if I remember correctly, after

the initial treatment, the tests for mycoplasma become less reliable. You'll

get so many false positives that it's almost not worth testing. I'm not sure if

that has improved these days, but that's a problem I used to have. More and

more doctors around here have become aware of how mycoplasma can get passed

around and around, so when you point out the symptoms are the same, they're more

likely to treat it again. But if you get a diagnosis of asthma in the next few

months, I'd find a doctor who knows more about it. I have suggested to so many

parents who's kids were being treated for asthma to request a mycoplasma test,

and the ones who actually did ask, so many were positive it makes me wonder just

how many asthmatics are actually infected. One girl I met in an ER in Tennessee

- her mom contacted me a year later and said she hadn't had an asthma attack

since, and they had been in the ER several times a month since she was a little

girl.

I don't say that to scare you. Truly, don't stress about it and worry that she

won't get rid of it. Mycoplasma goes around in cycles at my work all the time,

and most people get over it and go on. There are only 2 people I'm worried

about there who seem to not be getting over it. It's just always around. You

just make sure it gets treated, and then be aware of symptoms lasting longer,

and don't always make the assumption that it's just allergies. It's a very

specific cough, which is why Dr G could recognize it over the phone. (Gosh -

that might be one of my favorite sentences he ever spoke to me. I still hear

the tone and I laugh at how indignant he sounded lol!!) Fortunately once I got

rid of it, I didn't get it again. It was a heck of a lot easier to get over

than strep. But it can trigger a milder onset of ocd and brain 'flicker', so if

you clear it up, you may see some positives.

Good luck!

________________________________

From: and Freeman <freemanbk@...

<mailto:freemanbk%40ns.sympatico.ca> >

<mailto:%40>

Sent: Sat, December 11, 2010 8:46:28 AM

Subject: Mycoplasm pneumoniae

Our son had a positive test for m. pneumoniae (IgM). Any suggestions on the

next step? What is the view on this? How does Dr. G. treat it? Thank

you everyone!

[Guest guest]

igm is active infection. what's up with the pediatrician saying it is old...igg

can suggest active, the labs need to be considered within a larger picture of

labs, symptons and response to treatment.

lisa

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed with mycoplasm pneumonia a year and a half ago...it was really

weird because I didn't have the regular symptoms of pneumonia....just had itchy

rash areas on my body and I felt very tired. They gave me a 5-10 day course of

antibiotics...I wish that I could remember which one...but it was one of the

basic ones. The testing was all handled quickly in the doctor's office within a

very short time. I know that this might not help...but I haven't met very many

people who have been diagnosed with this. HTH, Tricia

>

> Our son had a positive test for m. pneumoniae (IgM). Any suggestions on the

> next step? What is the view on this? How does Dr. G. treat it? Thank

> you everyone!

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

It's usually nothing like pneumonia as we understand it.  It's the name of the

bacteria, not the pockets of fluid in the lungs (although it can do that of

course).  You can often even have a relatively clear chest x-ray, maybe signs

of

congestion and inflammation, and still have " walking pneumonia " .  You'll

often

also have wheezing (so it gets mistaken for asthma or allergic bronchitis).

They often don't even test for it except when it's known to be running around

the community right then (actually it's always around here).  Tons of cases of

'bronchitis' could actually be mycoplasma, but fortunately for most people, with

luck they'll already be treated with an antibiotic that will cover it well

enough. 

That's just my experience.  I told an internal med doc once (while I was

setting

up his medical software, and reviewing his coding reports to get a feel for what

he did a lot of in his practice, revenue, stuff like that) that I noticed in his

reports that he didn't bill many of the in-office tests for it, but that he

diagnosed a ton of bronchitis - one of his higher incidents.  One of his

insurances that he had a lot of patients with pays a decent enough reimbursement

for that test that his revenue would increase by such & such (not a huge amount

or anything, but worth it) if he tested for it more often when there were

signs.  I dialed in about 3 months later to do my follow up on our set up, and

just curious, I ran a diagnosis report.  There was about a 30% drop in

bronchitis diagnosis, and a 30% increase in mycoplasma pneumonia.  And he was

only running that test about 40% of the time based on his evaluation.

I've done chart and medical record studies on all kinds of things when I was

curious about patterns in practices, and in mental health, it's staggering:  in

two psych offices, I've pulled every chart with a kid with OCD diagnosis, and

over 90% of them had a mention of tonsillectomy or chronic strep or chronic

tonsillitis.  The doc's response was all kids get strep.  So I pulled a bunch

of

other diagnosis, and I could only find 4 other kids where that history was

mentioned in their chart.  They didn't pay attention.  Did the next thing at

the

next practice.  About the same percentage (although far fewer ocd so not a big

enough sample).  In bipolar people who were hospitalized, a LOT of them also

had

a cold sore break out (HSV1) within a day or two of being admitted.  The

psychiatrists are very familiar with this - they say it's a result of the mania

or whatever.  I'm sorry, but the process of a cold sore starts at least days

if

not a week or two (I don't really know but I've been told that people can feel

it coming at least a week before a breakout) before the sore actually manifests

itself... how in the world could they rule out the possibility that the onset of

a breakout didn't trigger their mania?  I have a friend with both, and they are

always connected.  I've begged him to get on therapeutic dose of Valtrex (not

the suppressive dose), but he believes the doc that says it's a result of the

stress.  But anyway, they'll treat the cold sore with Valtrex sometimes while

in

the hospital, and they may get out after stabilization as early as 5 days. 

Isn't that also about the time it takes to start feeling improvement on

Valtrex?  My son started dancing around (after months of severe fatigue) at

about 3-5 days of Famvir, and I had told my husband I didn't expect to see

improvement in a month.

That had nothing to do with mycoplasma lol!  But I'm just saying, there isn't

aways a lot of concern about which bacteria is causing an illness- just treat it

w/the right antibiotic that tends to cover the usual spectrums for that area. 

There's not much of a connection made between symptoms of infection and their

resulting mental illnesses, but there are significant patterns there.

________________________________

From: " westbrook66@... " <westbrook66@...>

Sent: Thu, December 16, 2010 8:47:12 AM

Subject: Re: Mycoplasm pneumoniae

 

I was diagnosed with mycoplasm pneumonia a year and a half ago...it was really

weird because I didn't have the regular symptoms of pneumonia....just had itchy

rash areas on my body and I felt very tired. They gave me a 5-10 day course of

antibiotics...I wish that I could remember which one...but it was one of the

basic ones. The testing was all handled quickly in the doctor's office within a

very short time. I know that this might not help...but I haven't met very many

people who have been diagnosed with this. HTH, Tricia

>

> Our son had a positive test for m. pneumoniae (IgM). Any suggestions on the

> next step? What is the view on this? How does Dr. G. treat it? Thank

> you everyone!

>

>

>

>