Mycoplasma pneumoniae
is a common cause of bacterial pneumonia infections, more specifically
primary atypical pneumonia, or walking pneumonia. The symptoms of
primary atypical pneumonia were first described in 1938 by HA Reimann.
At the time he did not know what the source of the infection was. In
fact, Mycoplasma pneumoniae was not even described until 1963 by
NL Somerson. Primary atypical pneumonia is usually a mild form of
pneumonia and infections that do not require medical attention are
common. Mycoplasmic pneumonia is just one type of pneumonia; other
types of pneumonia include bacterial pneumonia, fungal pneumonia, viral
pneumonia, chemical pneumonia, and parasite pneumonia.
Last update: April 27, 2007
