What is mycoplasma pneumonia?

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About Mycoplasma Pneumonia

It’s a type of bacteria but acts more like a virus and spreads faster from person to person.
It infiltrates both sides of the lungs, increasing cough and breathing difficulties. It damages the lining of the respiratory system (throat, lungs, windpipe).
Symptoms
- It is not that rapidly infectious as a virus but it can affect our throat and our nasal cavities and descend to the lungs very quickly, causing pneumonia.
- Signs include the breakup of red blood cells, a skin rash and joint pain.
- Children may report a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, watery eyes, wheezing, vomitting and diarrhoea.
Who is at risk?
- The bacteria can cause pneumonia in any age group, especially in children, elderly or those with weakened lungs.
- Vulnerable groups, who already have respiratory issues, are prone to developing this infection in a severe form.
Treatment: There are multiple antibiotics which effectively cure this infection.

Q1) What is Bacteria?

These are any of a group of microscopic single-celled organisms that live in enormous numbers in almost every environment on Earth, from deep-sea vents to deep below Earth’s surface to the digestive tracts of humans.Bacteria lack a membrane-bound nucleus and other internal structures and are therefore ranked among the unicellular life-forms called prokaryotes.

Source: China mysterious disease outbreak: What’s mycoplasma pneumoniae, the bacteria that’s going round with a virus?