Mycoplasma pneumonia is a kind of pneumonia caused by the germ called Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Pneumonia means an infection of the lung. In pneumonia, parts of the lung become filled with fluid, which makes it harder to breathe.

Mycoplasma pneumonia is quite common, and is very contagious. The infection is spread primarily by coughing. When an infected person coughs, the surrounding air becomes populated with invisible droplets of saliva that contain the germ. A person who breathes in that air can become infected.

Most of the people affected are teen-agers and young adults, but the illness can occur in people of all ages. In addition to pneumonia, the germ can cause illnesses that affect other organs besides the lung. The infection is most common in late summer or fall, but it can occur in all seasons. The symptoms include fever, cough, headache, weakness and fatigue. While they may feel very sick during the illness, the great majority of people recover without lasting complications.