Walking Pneumonia Symptoms Are Easy to Miss, but Can Lead to Complications—What to Know
This mild form of pneumonia might not leave you bedridden, but you shouldn’t ignore it
Feeling run down but not “sick enough” to stay in bed? You might have a condition dubbed “walking pneumonia.” This mild yet persistent form of pneumonia often sneaks up on people, leaving them with cold-like symptoms they try to power through. But when ignored, it can lead to complications, especially for older adults or those with weakened immune systems. We spoke to an infectious disease expert to learn more about walking pneumonia—its symptoms, treatment options and ways to prevent it so you can breathe easier during colder weather.
What is walking pneumonia?
“‘Walking pneumonia’ is the colloquial term for an infection called mycoplasma pneumonia, a common bacterial lung infection,” explains Scott Roberts, MD, Assistant Professor at Yale School of Medicine. Also known as atypical pneumonia, it’s a milder type of pneumonia often caused by bacteria like Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Unlike traditional pneumonia, walking pneumonia allows individuals to continue their daily activities, albeit with discomfort. “It is termed ‘walking pneumonia’ because people are up and about walking around, not sick in bed,” adds Dr. Roberts. This brings both positive and negative effects. While Dr. Roberts notes walking pneumonia is a mild disease, “people feel well and go about their days while contagious and potentially spread [it] to others.” Additionally, symptoms can linger for weeks and may lead to more serious infections if untreated.
Woman's World Answers
Walking pneumonia is more common than you might think. And though it’s been making headlines in the United States lately due a rise in infections among school-aged children, it can affect people of all ages. “Generally this is not as serious as some other respiratory diseases, but certain people (extremes of age, people with compromised immune systems) are [at] higher risk than others,” says Dr. Roberts.
Walking pneumonia symptoms
Walking pneumonia symptoms often mimic those of a bad cold or mild flu. Unlike traditional pneumonia, it rarely causes severe shortness of breath or a high fever, making it easy to underestimate. Common symptoms include:
- Persistent dry cough
- Fatigue and weakness
- Sore throat
- Mild chest pain
- Low-grade fever or chills
“Symptoms are often gradual in onset and may be mild,” adds Dr. Roberts. However, they can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks and get worse over time. “Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish [walking pneumonia] from COVID, flu, RSV and other respiratory viruses circulating now. I get more suspicious of this when patients describe longer bouts of symptoms than expected for typical respiratory viruses.”
How walking pneumonia is diagnosed
If you suspect you might have walking pneumonia, schedule an appointment with your physician. He or she will listen to your heart and lungs, and may order a chest x-ray, mucus sample or blood test to confirm the diagnosis.
Why is it so important to get checked? Left untreated, walking pneumonia can progress to more severe pneumonia, causing fluid buildup in the lungs or respiratory failure. Additionally, it increases the risk of pleurisy (inflammation of the lung lining), lung abscesses and infections spreading to other parts of the body, such as the bloodstream (sepsis).
Walking pneumonia treatment options
“In most cases, people will recover without any medication,” says Dr. Roberts. This is typically within a week of managing symptoms, though a lingering cough may persist for several weeks. “If the symptoms are severe, persistent or someone is at high risk for severe disease, antibiotics (specifically macrolides such as azithromycin) are the best treatment.”
Home remedies, such as those listed below, can help with symptom management. But Dr. Roberts reminds us that they won’t kill the bacteria causing the infection (that has to run its course or be treated with antibiotics):
- Rest and hydration: Allow your body to recover by resting and drinking plenty of fluids.
- Over-the-counter medications: Pain relievers or fever reducers can alleviate symptoms like chest discomfort and fever.
How to prevent walking pneumonia
Prevention is particularly important for older adults or those with health conditions that weaken the immune system. “[Walking pneumonia] spreads through respiratory droplets, such as when someone in close proximity coughs or sneezes,” explains Dr. Roberts. Small things you can do to prevent infection include “avoiding people who are sick, washing your hands and other general infection prevention behaviors” such as practicing good hygiene. “Outbreak settings occur most commonly in group settings,” adds Dr. Roberts.
While there’s no specific vaccine for walking pneumonia, vaccines for influenza and pneumococcal disease can reduce your overall risk of respiratory infections. To strengthen your immune system, it’s always beneficial to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise and sufficient sleep.
If you feel under the weather and suspect walking pneumonia, don’t ignore it. Talk to your healthcare provider about early treatment to avoid complications.
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