The symptoms of Mycoplasma pneumonia have a gradual and often insidious onset of several days to weeks after infection that makes empirical diagnosis difficult. Symptoms can include⁴:

• Fever (may be high)
• Malaise
• Persistent, slowly worsening, dry cough
• Headache
• Chills
• Scratchy sore throat
• Sore chest and tracheal tenderness
• Pleuritic chest pain (rare)

Differential diagnosis⁴

Many diseases present with similar symptoms. The following must be ruled out in diagnosing Mycoplasma pneumonia:

• Pneumonia (viral, aspiration, bacterial, immunocompromised)
• Empyema and abscess
• Infection by:
  • Chlamydia pneumoniae
  • Legionella pneumophila
  • Chlamydia psittaci
  • Chlamydia trachomatis
  • Coxiella burnetii

Learn about testing for Mycoplasma