What Causes Walking Pneumonia Symptoms

Treatment For Walking Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia is caused by a bacterial infection of the upper and/or lower respiratory tract. Some people with this condition have mild symptoms, but will feel tired and have a cough. If your doctor suspects walking pneumonia, he/she will order a chest x-ray, which is the standard of care for diagnosing pneumonia. The doctor will also perform a physical examination and take a medical history.

The onset of walking pneumonia is gradual, with an incubation period of 1-4 weeks after exposure. During the later stages of the illness, symptoms worsen, and fever becomes higher. Coughing may yield discolored sputum also. The treatment for atypical pneumonia is a cycline antibiotic, such as doxycycline, or a macrolide antibiotic, such as azithromycin.

Articles On Pneumonia Types

• Chemical Pneumonia

âWalking pneumonia” sounds like it could be the name of a sci-fi horror flick. But it’s actually the least scary kind of pneumonia. It can be milder than the other types, and you usually donât have to stay in the hospital. You could have walking pneumonia and not even know it.

Who Gets Walking Pneumonia

As we discussed earlier, walking pneumonia is common in people who are routinely exposed to crowded places. Similarly, children who are in their school-going age and adults, younger than 40 years of age, are generally most likely to suffer from walking pneumonia. However, this doesnt mean that people belong to other age groups and social environment cannot get walking pneumonia.

It is also worth mentioning that to catch walking pneumonia, one generally needs to be exposed to the M. pneumoniae multiple times. Often, it is observed that the cases of pneumonia peak during late summer or fall seasons however you can contract walking pneumonia pathogen anytime during the year.

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What Is Pneumonia Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment And Prevention

Pneumonia is a lower respiratory lung infection that causes inflammation in one or both lungs.

Air sacs in your lungs called alveoli can then fill up with fluid or pus, causing flu-like symptoms that can persist for weeks or cause rapid deterioration of breathing leading to hospitalization. Pneumonia doesn’t respond to over-the-counter cold and sinus medicines.

Pneumonia comes in different forms and is caused primarily by bacteria or viruses, which are contagious, and less commonly by fungi or parasites.

The type of germ contributes to how serious the illness can become and how its treated. The severity of an infection depends on many factors, including your age and overall health, as well as where you may have acquired the illness.

How Is Mycoplasma Spread

Mycoplasma is spread through contact with droplets from the nose and throat of infected people especially when they cough and sneeze. Transmission is thought to require prolonged close contact with an infected person. Spread in families, schools and institutions occurs slowly. The contagious period is probably fewer than 10 days and occasionally longer.

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Things That You Can Do To Help Your Child At Home Are

• Control the fever with the proper medicine and right strength for the age of your child. Fevers lower than 101° F do not need to be treated unless the child is uncomfortable .
• Give your child plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
• See that your child gets lots of rest.
• Do not give over-the-counter cough medicines or other OTC medicines without asking the health provider first. The child needs to cough and bring up the phlegm. Coughing is the bodys way of clearing the infection from the lungs.
• Avoid exposing your child to tobacco smoke or other irritants in the air.

Home Remedies For Treating Walking Pneumonia

For treating walking pneumonia some home remedies can come in handy for getting rid of the symptoms.

• There is no substitution to eating health, particularly when you have caught walking pneumonia. So, when you are ill with it, start eating foods that are rich in vitamin A and vitamin C.

Not only will these vitamins help in strengthening your immune system but they will also help in fortifying the inner linings of your lungs. This will ultimately help in pacing up your recovery and help prevent walking pneumonia recurrence.

WHO also advises that children who suffer from respiratory infections should be given vitamin D supplements in addition to vitamin D rich foods. These foods include eggs, oily fish and vitamin-D fortified foods. The vitamin D intake can also be increased by absorbing sunlight. Unsurprisingly, vitamin D also helps in immune system regulation that protects children from not only pneumonia but also from other respiratory infections including bronchiolitis and tuberculosis .

A study conducted by experts from the University of Eastern Finland which was also published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

The study suggested that low vitamin D levels in serum increase the risk of pneumonia by 2.5 times, where the average age of study participants was 62.3 years and the baseline serum concentration was set at 43.5nmol/l.

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Walking Pneumonia Vs Bronchitis

Symptoms of walking pneumonia and bronchitis can overlap, the main difference being in their intensity. People with walking pneumonia are more likely to experience mild symptoms, fever, and fatigue.

Bronchitis affects larger air pathways in the lungs and typical pneumonia affects small air sacs in the lungs, while walking pneumonia sometimes doesnt affect the lungs at all.

Its often tricky for doctors to differentiate between walking pneumonia and bronchitis. Lab tests or some scans are sometimes needed. For example, your doctor might order an X-ray if suspecting pneumonia the scan would show liquid instead of air in lung sacs, while in bronchitis and walking pneumonia the airways are usually clear.

How Is Walking Pneumonia Different From Regular Pneumonia

Walking pneumonia differs from typical pneumonia in several ways, including:

• Walking pneumonia is a milder form of pneumonia.
• Walking pneumonia usually does not require bed rest or hospitalization.
• Walking pneumonia is usually caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Typical pneumonia is most commonly caused by _Streptococcus _pneumonia or influenza virus or rhinovirus.

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Recovery Time Of Walking Pneumonia

Once a person is infected with walking pneumonia, he/she takes a few days to develop symptoms. Due to this gradual symptom onset, people find it tough to trace back to the time where the infection was contracted and find a hint about their condition.

Experts believe that this gradual onset is due to the long incubation period of M. pneumonia that stretches between 1 to 4 weeks time however in most of the cases the symptom onset is observed 2 weeks after an individuals exposure to the causative agent.

Once a person begins to take antibiotics as prescribed by the doctor, the mycoplasma growth in the respiratory tract is reduced and eventually inhibited. Following this, the symptoms begin to improve and the person becomes less contagious for people in the surroundings.

What Causes Walking Pneumonia

Walking pneumonia is commonly caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a type of atypical bacteria damages the lining of the respiratory system.

M. pneumoniae is contagious and is spread from person to person via respiratory droplets that are dispersed into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. M. pneumoniae infections often occur in crowded settings such as schools, nursing homes, hospitals, college residence halls, and military barracks.

The incubation period the time between exposure and when symptoms develop – for M. pneumoniae infections is between 1 to 4 weeks.

People at higher risk for developing walking pneumonia include those:

• Recovering from respiratory illness

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Walking Pneumonia Symptoms After Covid

• Posted on January 8, 2022

Walking Pneumonia Symptoms After Covid. The most common symptoms of walking pneumonia include: Covid is one of the possible factors contributing to pneumonia, there are many other causes as well.

When covid pneumonia develops, it causes additional symptoms, such as: So far, more than 42 million cases and more than 1.1 million deaths have been recorded worldwide from the virus, which was first identified in the central chinese city of wuhan at the end of last year. Walking pneumonia and the common cold can have overlapping symptoms of fever, headache, loss of appetite, and of course, cough.

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In patient with concomitant clinical symptoms of deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities, an echo color doppler. Symptoms from walking pneumonia are usually pretty mild.

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In patient with concomitant clinical symptoms of deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities, an echo color doppler. Fever, sweating and shivering, loss of appetite and a rapid heartbeat are all also symptoms.

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Walking pneumonia and the common cold can have overlapping symptoms of fever, headache, loss of appetite, and of course, cough. Mild symptoms with marked abnormalities on chest imaging.

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When Should I See My Doctor

Pneumonia can be life-threatening if left untreated, especially for certain at-risk people. You should call your doctor if you have a cough that wont go away, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a fever. You should also call your doctor if you suddenly begin to feel worse after having a cold or the flu.

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What Is The Most Common Cause Of Walking Pneumonia

Walking pneumonia is caused by a bacteria named Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

This bacteria usually causes upper respiratory tract infections and bronchitis. But occasionally people who get sick with this bacteria can develop pneumonia. School-aged children are more likely to get pneumonia from Mycoplasma than adults or teens.

And while the bacteria is around all the time its usually most active in the late fall and winter. Below well cover how walking pneumonia spreads and how you can avoid getting it.

What Are The Complications Of Pneumonia

Most people with pneumonia respond well to treatment, but pneumonia can be very serious and even deadly.

You are more likely to have complications if you are an older adult, a very young child, have a weakened immune system, or have a serious medical problem like diabetes or cirrhosis. Complications may include:

• Acute respiratory distress syndrome . This is a severe form of respiratory failure.

• Lung abscesses. These are pockets of pus that form inside or around the lung. They may need to be drained with surgery

• Respiratory failure. This requires the use of a breathing machine or ventilator.

• This is when the infection gets into the blood. It may lead to organ failure.

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Can Walking Pneumonia Be Prevented

There is no vaccine for mycoplasma infections, so there is no way to prevent it. There are things you can do, though, to reduce your chances of getting it:

• Exercise, eat a well-balanced diet, and get adequate sleep. Exercise, rest, and proper nutrition help keep your body healthy. A healthy body is better able to resist infection.
• Wash your hands frequently. Hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent germs from spreading.
• Don’t smoke. Smoking damages the lungs, and damaged lungs are more susceptible to infection.
• Cover your mouth with your sleeve when you cough or sneeze. And, urge others to do the same. Coughing and sneezing are the primary ways infectious agents are spread.

WebMD Medical Reference

How Did I Get Walking Pneumonia And How Can I Avoid Getting It Again

Mycoplasma pneumoniae spreads from person-to-person through respiratory droplets the same way viruses like COVID-19 or influenza spread. When someone with the bacteria coughs or sneezes, they release droplets into the air and you can breathe them in. You can also get it from touching objects or surfaces that have the bacteria on them and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

People usually start having symptoms 2 to 3 weeks after they are exposed to the bacteria.

Theres no vaccine for mycoplasma pneumoniae. The best ways to keep from getting sick are frequent hand washing and staying apart from people who have symptoms of a cold.

If youre sick, help keep others healthy by washing your hands, staying home when possible, and covering your nose and mouth with your elbow when you cough or sneeze.

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Walking Pneumonia Diagnosis And Treatment

To diagnose walking pneumonia, your doctor will perform a physical exam and request a chest x-ray, a culture of mucus from your lungs, a sputum gram stain test, a throat swab, a complete blood count, as well as blood tests for antibodies and blood cultures.

Walking pneumonia is commonly treated with antibiotics and over-the-counter medications to control fever. You shouldnt take any cough medicine without your doctors okay as it can make it difficult to spit up mucus.

You should also drink plenty of fluids and get rest to allow your body to heal.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

• I have a chronic condition. Am I at higher risk for pneumonia?
• Do I have bacterial, viral, or fungal pneumonia? Whats the best treatment?
• Am I contagious?
• How serious is my pneumonia? Will I need to be hospitalized?
• What can I do at home to help relieve my symptoms?
• What are the possible complications of pneumonia? How will I know if Im developing complications?
• What should I do if my symptoms dont respond to treatment or get worse?
• Do we need to schedule a follow-up exam?
• Do I need any vaccines?

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What Are The Symptoms Of Pneumonia

The symptoms of bacterial pneumonia include:

• Bluish color to lips and fingernails

• Confused mental state or delirium, especially in older people

• Cough that produces green, yellow, or bloody mucus

• Fever

Mycoplasma pneumonia has somewhat different symptoms, which include a severe cough that may produce mucus.

What Are The Treatments Of Atypical Pneumonia

The diagnosis and treatment of atypical pneumonia is difficult since at the initial stages of it the symptoms and signs of it resemble that of common cold or flu. The symptoms and sings of this kind of pneumonia is mild than the other kinds of pneumonia. Hence, people who are affected by it can therefore carry on with their normal lives.

There are yet no vaccines that have been invented that can be diagnosed to prevent atypical pneumonia from taking place. Some of the treatments of atypical pneumonia therefore are:

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Whos At Risk And What Are The Symptoms Of Pneumonia

Pneumonia occurs more frequently among:

• Older people
• People with chronic obstructive lung disease
• Those with heart failure, stroke or diabetes
• Those who smoke or overuse alcohol
• People taking certain medicines

Although less common, some people will also complain of pain in their chest when they breathe.

What Are The Ways To Prevent Atypical Pneumonia

There is no vaccine that is yet been made that can help prevent a person from getting walking pneumonia. Along with that, a person once affected with this kind of pneumonia to have chances of getting infected by it again. Hence, in order to keep one self from getting the atypical pneumonia and reduce the possibility of getting it, some of the ways are:

Undergo certain lifestyle changes

One of the best ways to prevent the chances of getting atypical pneumonia is to bring about certain lifestyle changes. Doing regular exercises, eating proper nutrition, taking complete rest are some of the ways to do so.

Quitting Smoking

People who smoke are more prone to getting atypical pneumonia than the people who do not. This is for the fact that smoking tends to damage the lungs which is one of the root causes of getting atypical pneumonia. Hence, quitting smoking reduces the chances of getting it.

Keep the hands clean

One of the ways in which the virus and bacteria spreads is unclean hands. Hence, it is important to ensure that the hands are cleaned properly and regularly. The hands must be washed for at least a minimum of 20 seconds. Warm water and a hand sanitizer that is alcohol based is one of the best choices to get maximum effect.

Cover the face while coughing and sneezing

Wear a mask

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Treatment And Medication Options For Pneumonia

A lot of treatment aspects, as well as outcome, depend on the person, as well as the type of pneumonia they have, says Dr. Barron. Sometimes youll be fine just resting, but if you have things like trouble breathing, you should get to a doctor right away.

Your doctor will outline a plan that’s specific to you, considering the type of pneumonia you have, the severity of the condition, your age, and your overall health. From there, you’ll know whether you can be treated at home or need to go to the hospital, and whether you require antibiotics.

How Can I Tell The Difference Between A Common Cold And Walking Pneumonia

The symptoms of a common cold and walking pneumonia are the same at the beginning of the illness. But common colds usually start to get better after 3 or 4 days, and symptoms are usually gone by 7 to 10 days.

Some clues that you could have walking pneumonia are:

• Your symptoms are not getting better after 3 or 4 days.

• Your symptoms get worse at any point in your illness.

• Your symptoms are lasting more than 7 to 10 days.

• You start feeling chest pain or having trouble breathing/shortness of breath.

If any of these ring true, you should see a healthcare provider to check if you have walking pneumonia.

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