Community-Acquired Pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae Requiring Hospitalization: Not Always a “Walking Pneumonia”

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) has long been recognized as a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), typically associated with mild to moderate respiratory illness. However, increasing evidence suggests that MP can also lead to more severe forms of pneumonia, particularly in individuals with underlying risk factors, such as advanced age, chronic diseases, or immunocompromised. Despite its potential for severe illness, MP remains an often overlooked pathogen in the clinical setting. We present two cases involving young adults—one male and one female—who developed severe MP-associated CAP requiring hospitalization. These cases underscore the clinical manifestations, risk factors, and diagnostic challenges associated with MP infection.