Walking Pneumonia Symtoms

Walking pneumonia is a milder version of pneumonia. It is caused by mycoplasma, a microorganism that has combined characteristics of bacteria and virus. It is therefore called atypical pneumonia. Bacteria, fungi and virus cause the normal version of “typical pneumonia”. The person does not exhibit serious ill effects. He/she can easily move around and perform normal day-to-day activities.

The mycoplasma takes about one to three weeks to adapt inside the respiratory system and exhibit symptoms. In numerous cases, the person will not even realize that he/she has been infected with walking pneumonia. This generally affects younger sections of the society. Children between 5 and 16 years are particularly susceptible to walking pneumonia. Nearly two million people are affected annually in the US alone. People living in temperate regions of the world are more susceptible. The microorganism is extremely virulent in summer time.

Symptoms include:

Lethargy, tiredness, reduced work output
Fever and chills
Severe cold (unlike normal common cold)
Runny nose and sore throat
Persistent cough
Chest pain due to severe coughing
Headache of varying severity
Abnormal breathing due to persistent coughing
Abdominal pain
Earache
Eye pain

Walking pneumonia is often confused with common flu like symptoms. Generally, people end up ignoring the symptoms as nothing serious. However, a delayed diagnosis can lead to complications. Persistent coughing and chest pain for more than a week should be immediately checked with a doctor to negate any presence of microorganisms. Antibiotics are generally effective in treating the disorder. If the condition is severe, intravenous fluids might be necessary.

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