In any case, it’s worth getting acquainted with the latest respiratory offender making waves so you can steer clear of its wrath. Below, experts share the typical signs of walking pneumonia and how it’s diagnosed, plus what treatment and prevention look like.
What are the symptoms of walking pneumonia?
As noted above, the thing about walking pneumonia that distinguishes it from traditional pneumonia is the relative mildness of the symptoms. But both illnesses exist on a spectrum, Dr. Pischel notes, meaning that cases of walking pneumonia can still range in severity, and different people can respond to similar symptoms in distinct ways.
Generally, the common symptoms of walking pneumonia include:
- Cough
- Low-grade fever
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
As a result, it’s tricky to differentiate it from a cold, the flu, or any other respiratory tract infection, like COVID or RSV. One thing to look out for? A wet or productive cough, where you’re hacking up a lot sputum, Purvi Parikh, MD, MD, FACAAI, FACP, a New York-based allergist and immunologist and a member of the medical advisory council of the Allergy & Asthma Network, tells SELF.
There’s also the duration of these symptoms to consider, Dr. Mercado says. He notes that many of his patients blame a nagging cough or sore throat on allergies—but if it’s not letting up for several days, even after taking an allergy medication or avoiding the allergen, a pathogen like M. pneumoniae could be the culprit. Walking pneumonia symptoms also tend to come on gradually and outlast those of the common cold or flu. (Some, like a cough, can even linger for months.)
In young kids, walking pneumonia can also trigger an array of gastrointestinal woes, like diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, Dr. Pischel says. And she adds that less commonly, both children and adults can develop a skin rash from the bug, too, that shows up as blisters or target-like lesions (think: concentric circles) as well as swelling of the lips and mouth.
Because none of the above symptoms are specific to just walking pneumonia, it’s important to see a doctor who knows what to look for and can do the appropriate testing if they think it’s necessary.
How is walking pneumonia diagnosed?
There are two main paths toward a walking pneumonia diagnosis: lab testing and a physical exam—and sometimes, just one of these may be sufficient.
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