🦠 Mycoplasma: The Overlooked Co-Infection Keeping You Inflamed & Exhausted
Posted by the Nurse Practitioners at Lowcountry Wellness Center | Whole You: The HO Member Blog
If you’ve been diagnosed with chronic Lyme or post-viral illness but still feel inflamed, foggy, or constantly run down, there may be another layer contributing to your symptoms: Mycoplasma.
Mycoplasma is one of the most common and under-addressed co-infections we see in complex chronic illness. And because it doesn’t show up clearly on standard labs, many people go years without knowing it’s playing a role.
🔍 What Is Mycoplasma?
Mycoplasma is a tiny, cell-wall-deficient bacteria that acts more like a stealth pathogen than a traditional infection. Without a cell wall, it can easily evade the immune system and antibiotics that target bacterial walls.
There are several types, but Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the most common species involved in systemic inflammation, autoimmune symptoms, and post-viral fatigue syndromes.
🧠 Symptoms That Might Point to Mycoplasma
Because it affects multiple systems, Mycoplasma can look different for each person. Common signs include:
- Persistent fatigue not improved by rest
- Brain fog or slowed processing speed
- Muscle or joint pain without clear injury
- Occasional low-grade fevers or chills
- Air hunger or shallow breathing
- Interstitial cystitis-like bladder pain or urgency
- Sinus congestion or chronic cough
- Headaches (especially pressure behind the eyes or temples)
- Autoimmune flares or unexplained inflammation
In kids or teens, Mycoplasma may show up as mood swings, fatigue, or PANS/PANDAS-like symptoms.
⚠️ Why It’s Hard to Detect
Mycoplasma doesn’t always cause obvious respiratory symptoms, so it often flies under the radar. It also tends to:
- Evade detection due to its lack of a cell wall
- Suppress immune markers that would typically rise during infection
- Contribute to long-term immune dysregulation rather than acute illness
Most conventional labs will only check for antibodies (IgG, IgM) or PCR during acute infection. But in complex cases, we also look for patterns of symptoms and test through specialty labs when appropriate.
💥 What Makes Mycoplasma So Inflammatory?
Mycoplasma is known to increase systemic inflammation by:
- Activating cytokines that can lead to pain and fatigue
- Disrupting mitochondrial function and energy production
- Triggering autoimmune responses in some genetically susceptible individuals
It may also play a role in the formation of biofilms — sticky microbial communities that make infections harder to eradicate.
🔄 How We Support the Body in Clearing Mycoplasma
Addressing Mycoplasma takes a layered and gentle approach — especially when other co-infections or mold exposure are present.
We often begin with:
- Drainage and detox support to prepare the body
- Immune modulators(such as transfer factors or thymic peptides)
- Anti-mycoplasma botanicals like Lomatium, Isatis, or Scutellaria
- Mitochondrial support(CoQ10, NAD precursors, magnesium)
- Biofilm disruptors when appropriate
- Nervous system regulation to improve recovery and resilience
In some cases, prescription antimicrobials may be added. However, we individualize every protocol and closely monitor progress.
💬 Final Thoughts from Our Team
If you’ve been living with chronic fatigue, brain fog, pain, or post-viral symptoms that never seem to fully resolve — it’s worth exploring the role of Mycoplasma.
It’s not about chasing more diagnoses. It’s about understanding the full picture of your health — and removing hidden barriers to healing.
At Lowcountry Wellness Center, we specialize in identifying and addressing these stealth infections with a compassionate, whole-body approach.
In support of your full recovery,
Your Lowcountry Wellness Team
*This blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Please consult your healthcare provider before beginning any new health protocol, supplement, or therapy.
