What is Walking Pneumonia?

Many people’s eyes are open wide when they hear the word walking pneumonia coming from their doctor’s mouth. This type of illness is very disturbing to everyone and is very serious especially for all those with immune systems that are more vulnerable such as in newborns and the elderly. However, there is good news, most cases of walking pneumonia in children and adolescents can be easily treated.

Walking pneumonia is simply known as an inflammation within your lungs. There are several ways that it can be caused, from virus, microorganisms, foreign bodies, or even chemical irritants. However, the phrase “walking pneumonia” is classified as a certain group of this horrible sickness that if it is left untreated you could end up on bed-rest or even hospitalized. So, if you feel miserable with a severe cough, chills, headache, fever, and even abdominal pain then do not wait until it gets worse, contact your local physician.

When your physician is trying to diagnose your illness and he or she states that it is walking pneumonia, they are referring to a certain organism known as the mycoplasma pneumonia infection.
Walking pneumonia is one of the major causes of respiratory infections in several different age groups. It can be very contagious if you come in close contact with a person that is infected with the illness. The infection can be spread when someone who is infected coughs and the person that is not infected is breathing that air. Most of the time a person with the illness tends to start coughing a lot more at night time, therefore, people that sleep in the same room are more prone to catch this horrible sickness. So if you began to see a decrease in your energy level this might be one of the first early signs followed by cold like symptoms that you are coming down with the infection. Then the runny nose, headache, and sore throat, along with a fever might be the next act on your body.
But nevertheless with the correct antibiotics within a week and you should began feeling like yourself again if you make sure that you get plenty of rest. Most physicians prescribe clarithromycin, azithromycin, erythromycin, or even tetracyclines.

Be sure that you complete the medication so that you do not have a relapse of this unwanted infection — walking pneumonia. If you do not feel as though you have improved be sure that you call your physician and let him or her know because your symptoms could be getting worse instead of better.