Children who have coughs that go on for weeks may have a type of walking pneumonia that’s been surging in the US this year, and they may need a different antibiotic regimen to treat it, infectious disease experts say.

This infectious respiratory illness is on the rise, especially among children. Here's what parents need to know.

Bacterial infections from Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which can cause walking pneumonia, have surged since late spring, according to the CDC. The spike has been highest in children ages 2-4. Cases of "walking pneumonia" — a milder form of the lung infection pneumonia — have spiked in the United States, particularly among young children.

The infection is causing what's called "Mycoplasma pneumonia." The rate of cases at emergency rooms had been increasing over the past six months with the peak hitting in August.

Cases of "walking pneumonia" have been rising sharply in the United States since the spring, especially among young children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Infectious disease experts stress it’s not a cause for panic. Still, it’s important to be aware of symptoms to protect your children.