Walking pneumonia is a term that is used to denote atypical pneumonia. This condition can occur in any people, and there are some factors that might enhance your chances of developing walking pneumonia.

Now, a lot of people might want to know in detail about the walking pneumonia symptoms. These details will help them to differentiate walking pneumonia from regular pneumonia. The symptoms will also help the doctors to make the right diagnosis.

Here, we will be going through these symptoms in detail. Along with that, we will also be going through the diagnosis, and treatment of this condition.

Walking Pneumonia

Before checking out the walking pneumonia symptoms, let’s take a look at this condition.

• It can be considered as a lung infection where the intensity of the infection can be considered as mild.
• As we all know, in the case of Pneumonia, the lung infection that occurs makes the airways swell. Along with that, the air sacs which are present inside the lungs fill with mucus, as well as other fluids.
• In the case of Walking Pneumonia, the condition is not that serious. In fact, in this case, you will be able to walk around and do your daily chores without realizing that you have pneumonia.
• Hence, it is appropriate to say that Walking Pneumonia is actually Atypical Pneumonia.

Walking pneumonia symptoms

• The most common signs and symptoms of Walking Pneumonia are listed below.

1. Pain and discomfort in the chest region.
2. Low grade fever (Temperature will be less than 38 degrees Celsius or 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
3. Pharyngitis or sore throat
4. Mild chills
5. Extreme fatigue
6. Headache
7. Cough
8. Sneezing

• These signs and symptoms are very much similar to the ones that we experience when we have a cold or flu. As a result, a lot of people might think that they are suffering from colds or flu. Walking pneumonia might not cross their minds.

Risk Factors

If you are curious to find out about the walking pneumonia disease, then you might also want to take a look at the risk factors.

1. Age- 2 years or younger, and 65 years or older.
2. COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
3. Emphysema
4. Asthma
5. Having a weakened immune system
6. Use of immunosuppressant medications
7. Working or living in crowded places
8. Use of inhaled corticosteroids
9. Use of tobacco products

Diagnosis of Walking Pneumonia

Walking pneumonia symptoms, as well as diagnosis can be considered as a very important topic of discussion as it will help us to deal with such situations efficiently. So, let’s see how this condition can be diagnosed.

• In order to diagnose this condition, your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination and will perform auscultation. In the process of auscultation, the doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the sounds coming from the lungs.
• As we all know, the medical device stethoscope consists of a small, metal disc which connects to the earpieces with the rubber tubing. The doctor will press the metal disc against the patient’s chest and back and listen for any abnormal sounds that might be present.
• In addition to that, they will also inquire about your symptoms to get a proper idea of the condition. They will also ask if any family members, coworkers, or friends are sick or showcasing any of the listed symptoms.
• After the examination, if they feel that you are suffering from walking pneumonia, then they will order some additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.
• In the majority of the cases, the doctor will perform an X-ray to check for signs of infection. Sometimes, they might also carry out a mucus sample test or blood test. These tests will help in understanding the cause of this medical condition.

Walking pneumonia treatment

Now, let’s take a look at the treatment course that is followed in the case of walking pneumonia.

• The treatment procedure that you have to undergo will depend entirely on the cause of the disease. For instance, if the healthcare provider feels that the walking pneumonia was caused because of bacteria, then he or she will put you on antibiotics. 
• On the other hand, if your healthcare provider feels that a virus is causing the illness, then you will have to let the disease run its course. As we all know, antibiotics will not function against viruses.  
• Sometimes, the doctor might ask you to take some over-the-counter (OTC) medication. These medicines will help in relieving the nasal congestion, mucus buildup in the chest, as well as cough to a great extent.
• In addition to that, you can also take some warm fluids, take a hot bath, or use a humidifier to open up your airways. You should also drink sufficient quantities of water and take proper rest.

Commonly prescribed antibiotics

Now that we know what the walking pneumonia symptoms are, let’s take a look at the antibiotics that are prescribed for this condition.

1. Tetracyclines- This category includes doxycycline and tetracycline, and are good for use in older children, as well as adults.
2. Macrolide antibiotics-  These include azithromycin and clarithromycin, and the macrolide antibiotics are an excellent choice for treating walking pneumonia in children and adults.
3. Fluoroquinolones- This antibiotic category includes ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, and are quite efficient in managing this condition. However, it should be kept in mind that the antibiotics belonging to this group are generally not prescribed to the young children.

So, walking pneumonia symptoms are indeed very mild when compared to the symptoms showcased by regular pneumonia. In fact, these symptoms will be quite similar to that of normal common cold, or flu. If your healthcare provider has asked you to take antibiotics, then you should finish the full course without missing any dose. You should not stop taking the medication even when you are feeling better. Stopping the medication suddenly will make the walking pneumonia come back within a few days. This time, it will be more difficult to treat this condition, and you might even have to consume stronger antibiotics. So, make sure you follow your doctor’s advice thoroughly.