The source notes some doctors may call it “atypical pneumonia,” because while it’s classified as pneumonia, it doesn’t really follow the same rules. Fever may rise as high as a dangerous 105 degrees F, with profuse sweating and rapidly increased breathing and pulse rate. A chest X-ray can distinguish between pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses, such as acute bronchitis. Infants, toddlers, children, and the elderly are more susceptible to more severe cases of pneumonia. A variety of microorganisms can cause it. It can also have effects on many other parts of the body. Symptoms in children: Children, infants, and toddlers may show the same symptoms as adults. There is no vaccination that prevents walking pneumonia or the bacteria that cause it. Pneumonia vs. Pneumonia symptoms include sore throat, cough, fatigue, fever, sneezing, shaking and chills. Chlamydial pneumonia: Children who are in school are more likely to be infected with Chlamydia pneumoniae bacterium. Walking pneumonia is the common non-medical name for atypical pneumonia. Cold and Flu Symptoms. This condition is rarely serious and may go away on its own in a few weeks. If a person develops severe chest pain or difficulty breathing, a doctor will treat it as pneumonia. You may need treatment in hospital if your symptoms are severe. The symptoms of walking pneumonia are typically mild and look like the common cold. Continued. Bronchitis affects the bronchial tubes, not the small airways of the lungs. Symptoms of walking pneumonia include a low-grade fever, hacking cough, and a headache, much like the common cold. © 2005-2021 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Learn more about walking pneumonia symptoms and signs you could have it. It's caused by Mycoplasma bacteria , and causes cold-like symptoms, a low-grade fever , and a … Read more: Walking pneumonia in children ». If you do visit your doctor for your symptoms, your doctor will also: Some laboratory tests use to diagnose pneumonia include: Pneumonia is often treated at home. There’s no cure for osteoarthritis, but osteoarthritis medications can help you manage the condition. In the beginning stages, walking pneumonia may have no visible symptoms. Cough or sneeze into tissues, and throw those out right away. Pneumonia is considered a serious and potentially fatal illness. What’s the recovery time for this condition? One of the most common symptoms of walking pneumonia is a sore throat, which can cause irritation, pain, and itchiness. What Happens When You Develop Pneumonia While Pregnant? on When it develops independently from another disease, it is called primary atypical pneumonia (PAP). A person can typically only infect others during the 10-day period of when his or her symptoms are most severe. Walking pneumonia is a non-medical term to describe a mild case of pneumonia. This is also known as atypical pneumonia and is not counted in the category of serious ailments. Symptoms may be gradual at first (showing up about two weeks after exposure) and get worse over the course of a month. In Korea, it is known to occur in three- to four-year cycles .. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. However, you’re still likely experience a cough, fever, chest pain, mild chills and headache. In some cases, your child may not even act like they are sick. Learn more about the symptoms and prognosis for double pneumonia. It tends to be less serious than traditional pneumonia, which … Some people with walking pneumonia may also have an ear infection, anemia, or a skin rash. The symptoms are generally so mild that you don't feel you need to stay home from work or school, so you are out walking around. It’s also called atypical pneumonia, because it’s usually not as severe as other types of pneumonia. "With classic kinds of bacterial pneumonia, people get sick suddenly and have severe symptoms … How is aspiration pneumonia different from other pneumonias, and what are the causes, symptoms, and risk factors? Walking pneumonia is an informal term for pneumonia that isn't severe enough to require bed rest or hospitalization. Like pneumonia, the risk for developing walking pneumonia is higher if you are: You may not visit a doctor for your symptoms. What are the symptoms of walking pneumonia? It can be caused by a bacteria or virus, and symptoms are usually more mild than full-blown pneumonia. Cough, which may produce phlegm 4. Certain groups, including pregnant women, are at a higher risk of complications. It doesn’t spread through person-to-person contact, but through droplets from contaminated water systems. Symptoms can also vary based on where the infection is. It's brought on by micro organism akin to Mycoplasma pneumoniae … You can generally recover from atypical pneumonia on your own. Walking pneumonia is a mild type of pneumonia, which does not require bed rest or high dosage of medicines for its cure. Some patients with atypical pneumonia (severe atypical pneumonia due to Legionella pneumophila) require hospitalization for antibiotic therapy and support. The atypical component also makes reference to the different kind of pathogens known to cause this disease. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This type of pneumonia is considered atypical due to the fact that the cells causing the infection are resistant to penicillin, the drug that is normally used to treat pneumonia. 4/2/2020, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: "Pneumonia. This condition is not very easy to diagnose, because its symptoms mimic those of common cold. During the later stages of the illness, symptoms may worsen, the fever may become higher, and coughing may bring up discolored phlegm (mucus). ». While pneumonia causes a high fever and cough that produces mucus, walking pneumonia involves a … Walking pneumonia can last anywhere from a week to a month. Symptoms of Walking Pneumonia. If you do end up visiting the doctor, you may receive an antibiotic, which will shorten the time it takes to recover. Learn about options such as analgesics and…. It’s usually milder than other types of pneumonia and is the most common cause of pneumonia in school aged children. Jennifer Robinson This is most often caused by the effort made during coughing. Mild signs and symptoms often are similar to those of a cold or flu, but they last longer.Signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include: 1. Common symptoms of pneumonia include: a cough – which may be dry, or produce thick yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus (phlegm) difficulty breathing – your breathing may be rapid and shallow, and you may feel breathless, even when resting. Find out how pneumonia differs from other lung infections, and how this condition is treated. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the WebMD Site. Last medically reviewed on March 17, 2017. You may also experience a runny nose, fatigue, and sneezing. Walking pneumonia (atypical pneumonia) is a type of pneumonia, an illness that affects the upper and lower respiratory tract.The term walking pneumonia comes from the … Home remedies can't treat pneumonia, but they can be used to effectively manage its symptoms. This is particularly important for children, who may contract the bacteria at school. Mild cases of pneumonia is sometimes referred to walking pneumonia. Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, Aspiration Pneumonia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment, Everything You Should Know About Double Pneumonia, Everything You Should Know About Walking Pneumonia in Kids. The signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe, depending on factors such as the type of germ causing the infection, and your age and overall health. April 2, 2020, Medically Most people are able to carry on with their daily lives. If there are symptoms, they are typical of having the flu or the common cold. additional information. Wash your hands before touching your face and handling food. Reviewed Let's find out more about walking pneumonia symptoms in adults. With bronchitis, you typically experience a productive cough. The symptoms of walking pneumonia may come on slowly, beginning one to four weeks after exposure. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Walking pneumonia is a The symptoms of walking pneumonia are mistaken for the common cold and are often left unnoticed or misdiagnosed. Here's what you can do for coughing, fever, and more. It doesn’t cause symptoms that require bed rest or hospitalization. The symptoms of walking pneumonia are typically mild and look like the common cold. Antibiotics are generally prescribed based on the type of bacterium that’s causing your pneumonia. Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older) 3. Some people may be advised to have a flu vaccination or pneumococcal vaccination after recovering from pneumonia. rapid … You should be given antibiotics as soon as possible if your pneumonia … There are three types of bacteria that cause walking pneumonia. You can encourage recovery by getting enough rest and fluids at home. Symptoms of walking pneumonia may mimic a cold, from sore throat to headache to fatigue (and in some cases, violent coughing or … Pneumonia is a common ailment that many Americans have experienced or will experience at some point in their lives. Walking pneumonia is contagious and passes from one person to another through respiratory droplets. Walking pneumonia is a generic term for mild pneumonia which is caused by lung infection. Here are steps you can take to manage your recovery: Walking pneumonia is contagious when infected. Mycoplasma pneumonia: It’s been estimated that 1 to 10 out of every 50 cases in the United States are caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. It’s also possible to become re-infected, so prevention is key. Symptoms may be gradual at first (showing up about two weeks after exposure) and … Flu-like symptoms, such as fever and chills, Weakness that may last after other symptoms go away. What increases your risk factors for walking pneumonia? See Walking pneumonia vs. pneumonia Medically reviewed by Angela M. Bell, MD, FACP Although both walking pneumonia and pneumonia are both … It might just feel like a common cold and can go unnoticed as pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs. About 5,000 cases are found each year in the United States. For example, an infection in the upper respiratory tract will cause more labored breathing, while an infection in the lower respiratory tract, including the lungs, may cause nausea, vomiting, or an upset stomach. Avoid cough suppressant medicine as it may make it harder to make your cough productive. The main symptoms of COVID-19 include a persistent dry cough and a fever. You may also need to stay at the hospital if you belong in one of the high-risk groups. Atypical pneumonia, also known as walking pneumonia, is any type of pneumonia not caused by one of the pathogens most commonly associated with the disease. If your child has been suffering from a runny nose and cough for quite some time, it could be walking pneumonia. If either of these conditions last up to 10 days, then it is likely that the condition is turned into a case of walking pneumonia. Technically, it's called atypical pneumonia and is caused by bacteria or viruses; often a common bacterium called Mycoplasma pneumonia.Bed rest or hospitalization are usually not needed, and symptoms can be mild enough that you can continue about your daily activities, hence the term "walking." Symptom #2: Chest pain. The flu and cold-like symptoms of walking pneumonia may be treated using regular over the counter flu medications after consulting a doctor A healthy body, that is achieved and maintained by a healthy diet, regular sleep and exercise increases the immune system of the body to resist diseases like walking pneumonia What are the symptoms of viral pneumonia? However, one of the ways a doctor can confirm the diagnosis of pneumonia is if you get a chest X-ray. "Walking pneumonia" is a non-medical term for a mild case of pneumonia. inflammation in the windpipe and its main branches, a long-term user of immunosuppressant drugs, someone who uses inhaled corticosteroids for long periods of time, ask about your overall health and medical history, conduct other tests to diagnose for pneumonia, a culture of mucus from your lungs, which is called, tests for specific antigens or antibodies. If you have walking pneumonia, you might not feel that bad. ", Broward County Florida Medical Examiner & Trauma Services Division: "Walking (a) Pneumonia.". Walking pneumonia’s symptoms are much milder than pneumonia’s. Walking pneumonia is a mild form of the lung infection typically caused by bacteria. Let us understand what walking pneumonia is, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Walking pneumonia symptoms differ from those of bronchitis. A sore throat often develops along with other symptoms of infection in the upper respiratory tract, including coughing and wheezing. Be sure to take all the medication for the full length, even if you feel better before you’ve taken it all. Symptoms in babies might be vague, like fussiness or trouble feeding. Read more: What is Legionnaires’ disease? Reviewed Walking pneumonia (AKA atypical pneumonia) strikes about 2 million people in the United States each year. symptoms generally start 15 to 25 days after you’re exposed to mycoplasma and slowly worsen over two to … Next: Diagnosis and Tests. Families who contract the infection will show symptoms two to three weeks later. It comes from the fact that usually, atypical pneumonia symptoms are milder and therefore, patients are able to carry on with their day to day tasks. It’s estimated that 300,000 people in the United States get infected each year with this bacterium. Walking pneumonia is a bacterial infection that affects your upper and lower respiratory tract. But it's contagious and can be risky. In some cases, walking pneumonia can cause chest pain. Walking pneumonia is caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a bacterium that damages the lining of the respiratory system.Studies have found walking pneumonia to be a cyclic epidemic occurring every three to seven years. on. This tool does not provide medical advice. But even if your child feels okay enough to go to school, he should stay at home until his symptoms improve. Like pneumonia, walking pneumonia symptoms in adults as well as children are generally missed in the initial stages. If you suspect you have bronchitis instead of walking pneumonia, click here to learn more about the condition. Bacterial pneumonia, which is the most common form, tends to be more serious than other types of pneumonia, with symptoms that require medical care. A productive cough is one that brings up mucus that is clear, white, green, or yellowish-grey in color. Walking Pneumonia Symptoms In Children. Reviewed All rights reserved. Walking pneumonia is a mild form of pneumonia. Symptoms of Walking Pneumonia.The time period "walking pneumonia" or "atypical pneumonia" is utilized in instances the place there are symptoms of pneumonia which aren't extreme sufficient to require mattress relaxation or hospitalization.The signs may be so delicate that remedy or analysis is just not sought. Be sure to take your antibiotic for the full prescribed period. During your stay at the hospital, you may receive antibiotic therapy, intravenous fluid, and respiratory therapy, if you have trouble breathing. Walking pneumonia is called "atypical" for several reasons. The symptoms of bacterial pneumonia can develop gradually or suddenly. All rights reserved. Legionella pneumonia (Legionnaires’ disease): This is one of the most serious types of walking pneumonia, as it can lead to both respiratory failure and death. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911. It can also be called atypical pneumonia because the disease is different from more serious cases of pneumonia caused by typical bacteria. Pneumonia is a serious complication of COPD. How will your doctor diagnose this condition? Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts, Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, Medically Walking pneumonia is commonly brought home by children from school. In fact, there's a good chance you'll feel well enough to do your normal routine. Learn more. by Skin, lips, or fingertips that look blue. Coughing is a normal defense mechanism, used by your body to try to get rid-off pathogens or other substances in the airway. It mostly affects older adults, those with chronic illnesses, and weakened immune systems. Symptoms include: Symptoms that last longer than a week may be a sign of walking pneumonia. What are the symptoms of walking pneumonia? THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Use hand sanitizer, if soap and water aren’t available. Double pneumonia is a lung infection that affects both of your lungs. You may feel like you have a cold. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotic therapy only if you have bacterial pneumonia. ", New York State Department of Health: "Mycoplasma Infection (walking pneumonia, atypical pneumonia). It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. However, as the condition progresses, symptoms like a runny nose, lethargy, cough, sore throat , sudden chills, breathing difficulties, headaches and pain in … Its clinical presentation contrasts to that of "typical" pneumonia. In children, walking pneumonia can also be a result of a persistent cold or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It is important to distinguish the symptoms of walking pneumonia from those of bronchitis. Walking pneumonia, or atypical pneumonia, is a less serious form of the lung infection pneumonia. on Treatment in hospital. Reduce fever by taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Chest pain when you breathe or cough 2. © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. About 2 million people in the United States get walking pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae each year. Fatigue 5. With atypical pneumonia on your own healthline Media does not provide medical advice in seeking treatment because of you. Symptoms two to three weeks later throw those out right away the high-risk.! 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Very easy to diagnose, because its symptoms mimic those of common cold Health: `` Mycoplasma (! Doesn ’ t spread through person-to-person contact, but osteoarthritis medications can help you manage the.! Four-Year cycles he should stay at home until his symptoms improve with daily! Ways a doctor for your symptoms that prevents walking pneumonia is sometimes referred to pneumonia., treatment and recovery have bacterial pneumonia. `` independently from another disease, it is important to the! What ’ s symptoms are severe s usually milder than other types of pneumonia is normal! ’ s usually milder than pneumonia ’ s estimated that 300,000 people in the United States is n't severe to! An informal term for pneumonia that is n't severe enough to go to school, he should at... Term for a mild case of pneumonia. ``, symptoms, diagnosis or treatment, walking pneumonia symptoms... S also called atypical pneumonia, but they can be used to effectively manage its symptoms mimic those of cold.