Published December 02, 2024
If you have had a cough and a sore throat but keep testing negative for COVID-19, chances are you might have what is called walking pneumonia, a syndrome caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Generally, symptoms are mild, but most people describe it as a chest cold that can last longer than standard respiratory viral infections. Symptoms can include:
If a person carries persistent symptoms, particularly with a lingering cough that does not go away, it is safe to suspect walking pneumonia could be the cause. One of COVID-19’s main symptoms is a loss of taste or smell and that is never seen in walking pneumonia.
Walking pneumonia is a milder form of pneumonia and differs from it in which people feel well and are up and walking. However, this can be good and bad. It is good that this disease is mild, but the risk of spreading it from one person to another can then increase. The “walking” term implies people are still able to do their usual activities, unlike other forms of pneumonia which are more severe.
Since late spring, the number of infections has been increasing, especially among school-aged children and young adults. The rates have significantly increased in all age groups, but most especially in children ages two to four years old. Some of this can be attributed to epidemiological risk factors from larger gatherings in public spaces.
“This is not a new disease. We are seeing it now because there have been significant increases in community rates, mostly reflecting the changing behaviors of many pathogens post-COVID where many public health measures that were taken for COVID are no longer in place,” said Scott Roberts, MD, infectious disease specialist at Yale New Haven Hospital and assistant professor of Yale School of Medicine.
There is no home test to diagnosis walking pneumonia and it must be done in the doctor’s office or the hospital.
While many people can clear the infection without any treatment, those who are considered high risk should be treated with an antibiotic immediately. If they are left untreated, it has the potential to progress and cause severe pneumonia and other forms of invasive diseases.
While there are several antibiotics available, the first option is Azithromycin also known as a Z-pack. A person’s condition should improve rapidly in a matter of hours to days after the antibiotic is taken. While many people can clear the infection without any treatment, those who are considered high risk should be treated immediately. This includes the elderly, those with immuno-compromising conditions, or those with pulmonary conditions. If they are left untreated, it has the potential to progress and cause severe pneumonia and other forms of invasive diseases.
“The pneumococcal vaccine protects against current strains of Streptococcus pneumonia, a different bacteria that also causes pneumonia,” added Roberts. “This vaccine is now recommended for age 50 and up or those below 50 with risk factors for invasive diseases.”
For Streptococcus pneumonia or pneumococcus, we encourage everyone who qualifies for the vaccine to get it since it can lead to invasive diseases in some individuals. But unfortunately, this vaccine doesn’t protect from walking pneumonia so practice the standard infection prevention techniques used during COVID – hand washing, avoid people who are sick, stay home if you are sick, eat a well-balanced diet and get an adequate amount of rest.
