Walking pneumonia is on the rise in Canada, but what about Ontario?

Doctors and emergency rooms across Canada have said they are seeing an unusual rise in walking pneumonia cases, particularly in children, but what about here in Ontario?

Doctors and emergency rooms across Canada have said they are seeing an unusual rise in walking pneumonia cases, particularly in children, but what about here in Ontario?

Walking pneumonia, formally known as mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a mild form of the bacteria, and presents symptoms like a fever or cough. These cases are not monitored by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) or the Public Health Ontario (PHO), as they are not reportable.

Dr. Allan Grill, the chief of family medicine at Markham Stouffville Hospital, said, however, that, anecdotally, he and his colleagues have been seeing an increase in cases of walking pneumonia.

"What is interesting, though, is that the ER sort of started the signal and said, 'Not only are we seeing more cases, but we're actually seeing more cases in kids under age five,'" Grill explained. "Usually, mycoplasma and pneumonia, anyone can get it, but typically it's five and up, school-age kids, but they were seeing cases in younger kids."

Grill said he diagnosed three kids with pneumonia in just one week, about two weeks ago, which he confirmed by chest X-ray.

"Even though there's not an official surveillance program, we've been hearing about it. We're seeing it anecdotally in our offices," Grill said. "We know there's more cases of it going around."

But why are we seeing more cases in young children?