"Does a weakly positive Mycoplasma pneumoniae indicate pneumonia?"

Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

Updated on January 03, 2025

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During the testing process, if Mycoplasma pneumoniae shows a weakly positive result, this does not necessarily indicate that the person has pneumonia. A weakly positive result for Mycoplasma pneumoniae only suggests a possible infection, but does not confirm pneumonia. If there is a suspicion, further investigation, such as chest radiography, should be conducted. If chest radiography reveals changes in lung patterns or patchy areas in the lungs, then it can be considered that the person may have Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. If the chest radiography is normal, it cannot be concluded that the person has pneumonia.

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How to completely cure pneumonia in children?

Childhood pneumonia is mainly due to the weaker resistance of children, who are then subjected to the invasion of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or other agents like chlamydia and mycoplasma, leading to inflammation of the alveoli. Generally, the treatment of pneumonia is mainly targeted at its pathogens. For instance, antiviral treatment is administered for viral infections, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory treatments are required for bacterial infections, and specific antibiotics such as azithromycin or erythromycin are used for mycoplasma infections. For other types like tuberculosis and some other fungal pneumonias, specific treatments targeting those pathogens are also necessary. If the baby clearly has symptoms like wheezing or difficulty in breathing, symptomatic treatment is required. Therefore, pneumonia in children is mainly treated based on the cause, and as long as the course of treatment is sufficient, it can be cured completely. However, even after recovery, it does not mean a child will never contract pneumonia again. If the child has weak immunity or is in a high-risk environment with exposure to other patients with pneumonia cough, they might be infected again.

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Can pneumonia recur?

Can pneumonia recur? It should be decided based on an individual's constitution. If one has normal immunity and a good constitution, generally, it will not recur after recovery. If one is frail or has low immunity, there is also a certain chance of recurrence clinically. Therefore, it is important to timely adjust the constitution and enhance immunity. One should drink more water, quit smoking and alcohol, avoid exposure to smoke, dust, second-hand smoke, and irritating chemicals, and do more aerobic and endurance exercises. This can help improve the body's immune capabilities and aid in disease recovery.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

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Can pneumonia vaccines prevent mycoplasma pneumonia?

Can pneumonia vaccines prevent Mycoplasma infections? First, we need to understand what pneumonia vaccines are. In our country, the most commonly used pneumonia vaccines are aimed at Streptococcus pneumoniae, which are divided into polysaccharide vaccines and conjugate vaccines. Polysaccharide vaccines are mainly suitable for individuals over two years old and include the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine. This vaccine can prevent infections caused by twenty-three serotypes that often lead to S. pneumoniae infections, with over 90% of pneumonia caused by these twenty-three serotypes. However, the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine does not prevent infections caused by other serotypes of S. pneumoniae. Additionally, the conjugate vaccine only prevents infections caused by either seven or thirteen serotypes. Since Mycoplasma is neither a bacterium nor a virus, it cannot be prevented by pneumonia vaccines, and currently, there is no vaccine available specifically for Mycoplasma infections.

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How many shots are in the pneumonia vaccine?

Currently, there are two general types of vaccines for preventing pneumococcal pneumonia. One type is the 23-valent vaccine, suitable for high-risk populations over two years old. The other type includes the 7-valent or 13-valent vaccines, which are for preventing pneumococcal infections in infants under two years old. Infants under two usually follow a "three plus one" vaccination regimen, which involves three primary immunization doses with at least one month between each dose, followed by a booster shot. Additionally, adults over two years old or other high-risk groups are advised to take the 23-valent vaccine, which requires only a single dose. However, those who are frail or have poor immune responses may need a second booster dose five years after the initial vaccination.

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Can pneumonia vaccines prevent mycoplasma pneumonia?

There are currently two types of pneumonia vaccines available domestically: the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine and the 7-valent or 13-valent vaccines. These vaccines primarily prevent infections caused by certain serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The pneumonia vaccines cannot prevent Mycoplasma pneumonia, as Mycoplasma and Streptococcus pneumoniae are two different types of pathogens and do not share the same antibodies for protective effects. Thus, the pneumonia vaccines are mainly for preventing diseases related to Streptococcus pneumoniae infections, and are ineffective against Mycoplasma pneumonia.