What Is Walking Pneumonia?
Walking pneumonia is also called atypical pneumonia. It is a mild infection of the lower respiratory tract caused by pathogens not usually associated with pneumonia. It may result in persistent coughs or flu-like symptoms, like fever, chill, or cold sweat.
What Can Cause Walking Pneumonia?
Walking pneumonia is described as a mild case of pneumonia by a few people. Some doctors usually call it atypical pneumonia because it will not cause more severe symptoms.
Lung infection is a common sign often of being blamed. Lots of things can cause it, including:
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Fungi.
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Bacteria.
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Viruses.
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Inhaled food.
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Chemicals.
Walking pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria called Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
How Does Walking Pneumonia Differ From Regular Pneumonia?
Walking pneumonia is an infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by bacteria, whereas regular pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Walking pneumonia has flu-like symptoms, but bed rest is needed in regular pneumonia as it is associated with fatigue, fever, and chest pain.
What Are the Types of Walking Pneumonia?
Walking pneumonia is usually carried home by children from school. Families who contract this infection will show symptoms only after two to three weeks. The three types of bacteria that cause walking pneumonia are:
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Mycoplasma Pneumonia: It is generally milder than other types of pneumonia, and it is the most common cause of pneumonia in school-aged children.
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Chlamydial Pneumonia: These bacteria will affect children who are in school.
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Legionella Pneumonia: This is one of the most severe forms of walking pneumonia. It can cause both respiratory failure and death. It does not spread from person to person but only through the droplets from the contaminated water systems. Usually, older adults with chronic illnesses and weakened immune systems are affected by Legionella pneumonia.
What Are the Symptoms of Walking Pneumonia?
When a person is affected with walking pneumonia, they probably will not have to stay in bed or the hospital. They might even feel good enough to go to work and keep up their daily routine, just as they have a cold.
Symptoms of walking pneumonia may include:
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Headache.
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Low-grade fever.
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Sneezing.
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Rapid breathing.
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Labored breathing.
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Feeling tired.
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Sore throat (pharyngitis).
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Chest pain when one takes a deep breath.
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Mild chills.
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Abdominal pain.
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Loss of appetite.
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A persistent cough that can be dry or produce mucus.
Who Can Get Walking Pneumonia?
Anyone can get walking pneumonia. Walking pneumonia due to Mycoplasma is most commonly seen in children, military recruits, and adults younger than 40 years.
People who live and work in most congested areas like schools, dorms, military barracks, and nursing homes are more likely to contact it. The most common times of the year when walking pneumonia can occur are late summer and fall; however, infections can happen throughout the year.
The people who come under the following criteria can be affected easily by walking pneumonia:
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Over the age of 65 years.
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Two years old or younger.
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Impaired immunity.
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A long-term user of immunosuppressant drugs.
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People living with respiratory conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), etc.
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People who use inhaled corticosteroids for an extended period.
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People who smoke tobacco.
How Long Will a Person Be Contagious With Walking Pneumonia?
Suppose a person has walking pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. In that case, they are considered contagious (capable of being passed on by direct contact) from two to four weeks before the symptoms appear (called the incubation period). During this time, they will not realize that they are contagious and spreading pneumonia. Once the symptoms start, they remain contagious until the symptoms end.
How Can Walking Pneumonia Be Diagnosed?
The doctor will enquire about the patient's details about the symptoms, how long they have had them, and if any other members of the family or people around them are also ill with similar symptoms. The doctor will examine the lungs of the person with symptoms, using a stethoscope to check for any abnormal breath sounds. They may also suggest chest X-rays to see if there is a lung infection. The blood or mucus of the person with the symptoms will be tested to conclude whether the pneumonia is caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, any other bacteria, virus, or fungus.
How to Treat Walking Pneumonia?
Walking pneumonia is usually mild and does not require any hospitalization. It can be treated with antibiotics (if caused by the bacteria). Several types of antibiotics are effective over the bacteria causing it. Over-the-counter medications will also help relieve nasal congestion and cough and loosen mucus buildup in the chest. If there is a fever, it can be treated by:
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Drinking more fluids.
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Taking adequate rest.
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Taking medicines.
What Antibiotics Can Be Used to Treat Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infections?
Antibiotics used to treat walking pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae may include:
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Macrolide Antibiotics: Macrolide drugs are used for treating children and adults with walking pneumonia. Macrolide drugs may include Azithromycin and Clarithromycin. But for the past ten years, some strains of Mycoplasma pneumoniae have become resistant to this group of antibiotics, likely due to the widespread use of Azithromycin to treat various diseases.
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Fluoroquinolones: The fluoroquinolones drugs may include Ciprofloxacin and Levofloxacin. These drugs are not suggested for young children.
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Tetracyclines: This group includes Doxycycline and Tetracycline. They are suitable for both adults and older children.
How to Prevent Walking Pneumonia?
There is no vaccine for Mycoplasma infection; it cannot be prevented completely. By following a few steps, the chances of getting infected can be reduced:
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Exercise regularly.
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Eat a well-balanced diet.
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In Children with fever, ask them to have adequate fluids. Cough syrup must be administered only under the supervision of a medical professional because sometimes they will not help clear the mucus in the lungs.
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Try to have adequate sleep to keep the body healthy, which helps to resist infection.
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Wash hands frequently with warm water and soap. This is one of the best ways to prevent germs from spreading.
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Do not smoke because smoking can damage the lungs, and damaged lungs are more prone to getting infected.
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The infection can be spread mainly through coughing and sneezing. Therefore, it is advisable to cover the mouth with a tissue or a sleeve while doing these activities. It is best to encourage others to follow this to help prevent the spread of these infections.
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Wear a mask while around sick people if one has respiratory conditions.
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Get an annual influenza (flu) shot because bacterial pneumonia may sometimes develop after a case of the flu.
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Seek a doctor’s help for the pneumococcal vaccine.
Conclusion
People with walking pneumonia may feel better after a few days of being put on antibiotics. However, the cough might continue for a few weeks. It is possible to acquire the disease again. One might have some immunity for a while, but it is unclear how long it can last. But if it recurs, the symptoms might be milder than the first time.
