Month: July 2015

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of ‘walking pneumonia’

Atypical or mycoplasma pneumonia, more popularly known as “walking pneumonia” is a mild form of pneumonia that typically goes undiagnosed because people rarely seek medical help for it. However, because this infection and its symptoms can linger on for a long time and can be spread easily, it’s best to nip the illness in the bud as soon as it appears.

To do so, one must be familiar with the signs of this illness, which typically appear 15 to 25 days after a person is exposed to the mycoplasma bacteria. Long-term colds that last more than a week can also turn into walking pneumonia. Similar to its more severe sibling, walking pneumonia’s most obvious symptom is coughing with very little mucus or phlegm produced, and difficulty breathing. Patients may also experience low-grade fever and chills ranging from 101 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, fatigue, appetite loss, and headaches. Some may also have trouble breathing and develop skin rashes.

Maj. (Dr.) David Rice, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, listens to a patient's heart beat during an exam Aug. 4 in the pulmonary clinic. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Josie Kemp)

                                       Image source: en.wikipedia.org

A few days’ treatment with antibiotics is usually recommended for walking pneumonia patients as over-the-counter flu and cold medicines aren’t enough to treat the illness. However, most people don’t go to the doctor as symptoms will usually dissipate completely after a few weeks.

That said, despite the mildness of walking pneumonia, it’s best for people within the same household, school, or office to ensure proper care so as not to spread it. While a patient on antibiotics will be less contagious, frequent proper handwashing, and covering the mouth when coughing and sneezing are musts.

2009 Brian Judd This 2009 photograph captured a sneeze in progress, revealing the plume of salivary droplets as they are expelled in a large cone-shaped array from this man’s open mouth, thereby, dramatically illustrating the reason one needs to cover hios/her mouth when coughing, or sneezing, in order to protect others from germ exposure. How Germs SpreadIllnesses like the flu (influenza) and colds are caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu and colds usually spread from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes.How to Help Stop the Spread of GermsTake care to: - Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough - Clean your hands often - Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth - Stay home when you are sick and check with a health care provider when needed - Practice other good health habits.

Image source: en.wikipedia.org

Before drinking medicine, however, it’s best to consult with a doctor to make sure that it is indeed walking pneumonia and not another condition so that one can get proper treatment and relief. Seeing a doctor is also imperative if symptoms appear to worsen over time.
Dr. Lisa Marie Cannon is a physician specializing in pulmonology, sleep medicine, and critical care medicine. For more updates on these areas of health care, subscribe to this Facebook page.

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