Mycoplasma pneumoniae in women

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (primary atypical or Eatons’ agent) is a common cause of walking or atypical pneumonia in young adults. It is responsible for approximately 43% of the cases of community-acquired pneumonia in patients between the ages of 17 and 44. Patients with Mycoplasma pneumonia typically present with the gradual onset of a nonproductive cough, sore throat, fever, and pulmonary infiltrates on chest x-ray. The diagnosis is based on symptomatology and on radiographic findings such as interstitial infiltrates, patchy infiltrates, plate-like atelectasis, nodular infiltration, or hilar adenopathy. The primary treatment for Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a macrolide antibiotic, preferably azithromycin: 500 mg initially and then 250 mg daily for 4 days.