Cases of Walking Pneumonia Rise in Children – NBC4 Washington

A rise in cases of walking pneumonia in young children has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a warning.

The CDC reports that the number of emergency room visits by children with respiratory infections caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae has increased rapidly in recent months.

Cases among children ages 2 to 4 rose from 1% in April to 7.2% in early October, according to the CDC. Emergency departments reported that the number of cases among children ages 5 to 17 more than doubled from 3.6% to 7.4% over the same period.

“The increase in children ages 2 to 4 is notable because M. pneumoniae has not been historically recognized as a leading cause of pneumonia in this age group,” the CDC said.

Adults are also susceptible to the bacteria. The CDC said cases were rising across all age groups.

What are the symptoms of walking pneumonia?

Pneumonia while walking can feel like a bad cold or flu.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms include:

• Sore throat
• Extreme fatigue
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Mild fever (less than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Mild chills
• Cough
• Sneeze
• Headache

Dr. Christina Johns, pediatric emergency physician and chief medical advisor at PM Pediatric Care, said it's time to see a doctor if you or your child has had a cough for more than a week.

“Many viruses can cause these similar symptoms, but listening to the lungs with a stethoscope is often enough to make the diagnosis. This is the type of infection that requires antibiotics to treat. “So it's important to get checked out,” Johns said.

Why is it called “running pneumonia”?

“People with pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae may look better than expected to someone with a lung infection.
If symptoms are mild, people may not stay at home or in bed. “This coined the term 'running pneumonia,'” the CDC says online.

How does pneumonia spread while walking?

“Pneumonia is an infection caused by bacteria entering the lungs. When we cough, we cough up parts of the bacteria. That is the reason for person-to-person transmission and the reason it is contagious,” Johns said.

How can I reduce the risk of pneumonia while walking?

To reduce the risk of getting sick and spreading the disease, Johns recommends practicing good hand hygiene, avoiding sharing drinks, covering your mouth when coughing and cleaning contaminated surfaces.