Walking Pneumonia
To make matters more confusing... even among primary care doctors – the nonclinical term walking pneumonia is used to describe any mild pneumonia, even those caused by virus - David G. Hill MD
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Diagnosis: Walking Pneumonia
‘Walking pneumonia’ is a type of pneumonia that, even if you let it go untreated, it won’t have you confined to bed—hence the ‘walking’ part. It just makes the sufferer really, really miserable. Generally, the organism to blame for all this is called Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a most common and major cause in many a respiratory infection. It can be contagious but it requires prolonged contact. Those with walking pneumonia are bothered with a hacking cough and with the cough being worse at night, people sleeping in the same room would be most vulnerable.
Resources
A Patient's Guide to Walking Pneumonia
Walking pneumonia is usually treated on an outpatient basis in a doctor's office or clinic. Oral antibiotics are the standard treatment for walking pneumonia that doesn't resolve on its own. Azithromycin (brand name Zithromax) is commonly prescribed. "Typically, we treat kids for five days," DeBlasio says. "They can still be coughing for a couple more weeks." Adults are also prescribed azithromycin or a similar antibiotic in the same class (macrolide antibiotics). As with kids, a shorter course of antibiotics is now recommended than previously.
Pneumonia Cases Can Be Mild, Physicians Say
Patients with ‘walking pneumonia’ may see illness resolve quickly.
Strolling Around with Walking Pneumonia
The term “walking pneumonia” was first coined in the 1930s, to suggest its relatively slight impact compared to better-known forms of pneumonia. At the time (decades before modern antibiotics), a pneumonia diagnosis required hospitalization in virtually all cases. Today, walking pneumonia is more officially known as “atypical pneumonia” because it is not spread by the same kinds of pathogens as traditional, bacterial pneumonia.
What is Walking Pneumonia?
When physicians diagnose someone with walking pneumonia, they are usually referring to an infection with an organism called Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
What to Do About Walking Pneumonia
Also referred to as atypical pneumonia, it doesn’t usually require bed rest but it tends to drag on.
When I had walking pneumonia
Then Tall Papa and I heard that there was an epidemic of mycoplasma pneumonia going around our town. Both of us went in to be checked and what do you know? We both had it.
Diagnosis: Walking Pneumonia
‘Walking pneumonia’ is a type of pneumonia that, even if you let it go untreated, it won’t have you confined to bed- hence the ‘walking’ part. It just makes the sufferer really, really miserable. Generally, the organism to blame for all this is called Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a most common and major cause in many a respiratory infection.
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