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What’s Going Around: Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma is on the rise. Advice for athletes foot. Where is the Travel Kitty? And recalls on roller shades and high chairs.
Table of Contents
It’s been a minute since the last newsletter, so there’s a lot to report.
What’s Going Around: Mycoplasma
I’m happy to report that RSV, Flu, and COVID are finally over for the season. Unfortunately, that pesky little bug, Mycoplasma, seems to still be going strong (according to the CDC Respiratory Illness data base for Utah). There are also some scattered reports of Pertussis (whooping cough), so make sure you’re up to date on your vaccines.
Understanding Mycoplasma: What You Need to Know
Mycoplasma is a type of tiny germ that can cause lung infections. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is sometimes called “walking pneumonia” (because you can walk around or function unknowingly). Unlike regular pneumonia, it’s usually milder—but it can still make you feel pretty sick. I have seen some really sick kids with it this season.
Mycoplasma Signs and Symptoms
Mycoplasma can cause cold-like symptoms at first. These include:
Sore throat
Cough that won’t go away
Headache
Tiredness
Fever
Sometimes, chest pain or ear infections
The cough is usually dry (no mucus) and can last for weeks.
How Mycoplasm Spreads
Mycoplasma spreads through coughing and sneezing. It’s more common in crowded places like schools, dorms, or camps. It can take 1 to 4 weeks after being exposed before you start feeling sick.
Mycoplasma Treatment
Most people recover without needing special medicine. But sometimes, doctors prescribe antibiotics like azithromycin. Since mycoplasma is a bacteria without a cell wall, certain antibiotics like penicillin don’t work on it.
Mycoplasma Prevention
There’s no vaccine for mycoplasma, but you can help protect yourself by:
Washing your hands often
Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze
Avoiding close contact with sick people
Staying home when you're sick to avoid spreading it to others
Mycoplasma isn’t usually dangerous, but it can take time to fully go away. If your cough won’t stop, persists beyond 10 days, or you have trouble breathing, you better go into the office.
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Medical Advances for the Win
As many of you know, a vaccine for RSV was introduced 2 seasons ago. The first season, there was a production problem and the availability was severely limited. It was widely available in the 2024-2025 season. There is a maternal vaccine and an infant vaccine (you use one or the other).
Now that we’ve had a full season with the vaccine, the numbers are finally in. Since the vaccine was introduced, the RSV hospitalization rates were 45-52% lower in infants younger than 3 months old and 28-43% lower in infants younger than 8 months old compared to 2018-2020 seasons (a typical season pre-pandemic and pre-RSV vaccine).
I would say these numbers line up with my experience as well. I definitely saw fewer cases of RSV this past season. Hallelujah!
WWWD: Athletes Foot
I was at church in Paris yesterday and an American family, after hearing I was a pediatrician, asked for my medical help. Their son had an itchy, red rash on the bottom of his foot. They had recently finished a Mediterranean cruise where he walked around the ship bare foot.
After taking a look, it was obvious he had picked a fungus.
What Is Athlete’s Foot?
Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection that usually starts between your toes. It can make your skin red, itchy, dry, cracked, or even smelly.
How to Treat Athlete’s Foot
Most cases can be treated with over-the-counter creams or sprays. I recommended they find a product that has the name “-azole” in it (like clotrimazole) and use a couple times a day for 1–4 weeks—even if the rash starts to clear up sooner.
How to Prevent Athlete’s Foot
Wear flip-flops in public showers, keep feet dry (change sweaty socks throughout the day), and don’t share shoes or towels.
Travel Follow
Many of my patients asked if we were going to blog our trip. Feel free to follow along on our adventures at NiceAtlas.com (put in your email and you’ll get notified when we post something).
A cute 6 year-old patient gave me this “Travel Kitty” to keep us safe on our travels. So sweet. I thought it would be fun to include a game of “Where’s The Travel Kitty?” Check out the hints below:
Hints:
The most recent volcanic activity was April 1, 2025.
Summers here are 50-55 degrees.
Pictured above is the Blue Lagoon. Travel Kitty is standing on the lava rock. The light blue water has geothermal heating, so it’s really warm.
This island is greener than it’s western neighbor, Greenland. (The Vikings wanted to discourage people from settling the island.)
Answer: D-N-A-L-E-C-I
Hint: 8 million people visit this woman every year
Answer: S-I-R-A-P
Recalls & Alerts: Spoons & Magnets
Legal Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice or medical treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or the health and welfare of your child. We do not endorse any specific products or brands mentioned in this article. Readers are encouraged to perform their own research and consult with appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on the information provided herein.