By Everything Lifestyle Staff

Lung infection

You May Have Walking Pneumonia and Not Know It

Jan 3, 2025 | 9:02 AM

Cases of this illness are on the rise and here’s what to watch out for.

If you have a cough that doesn’t seem to go away, there’s a chance you may have walking pneumonia. A lung infection that causes this condition has been circulating lately and cases of the illness are higher than they’ve been in years. So even if you don’t feel that sick, walking pneumonia may be the culprit.

What causes walking pneumonia?

Mycoplasma pneumonia is the primary cause of walking pneumonia – and it has been much more prevalent lately, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, especially in young children. It causes symptoms similar to other respiratory illnesses, such as coughing, sore throat and fever, and is often mild. But sometimes it results in a persistent cough that lingers for a few weeks or even a couple of months.

What are the symptoms of walking pneumonia?

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The most common symptoms of walking pneumonia are similar to a cold, the flu or Covid-19 and include:

• Cough
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Headache
• Runny nose
• Ear pain
• Chest pain (from coughing)

As the name implies, many people with walking pneumonia don’t feel sick enough to stay home in bed. They often feel well enough to go about their normal daily activities and the illness clears up before they need to see a doctor. But if symptoms worsen, you have difficulty breathing or you are at increased risk of complications, seek medical attention. In rare cases, walking pneumonia can progress to more severe pneumonia, worsen asthma symptoms or cause other serious health issues.

Who is most likely to get walking pneumonia?

Walking pneumonia is contagious, but not as contagious as some other respiratory illnesses. It is spread through airborne droplets from coughing, sneezing or speaking, but you need to be in close contact with someone who is infected to get sick. You’re not likely to catch it if you only have passing contact. The illness is more common in young children, who often get infected while at school, and in people who live in close quarters.

You can be contagious even when you don’t have symptoms, and since many people with walking pneumonia don’t feel sick enough to stay home, it makes it more likely that people with the illness will spread it to others while they go about their usual routines.

How can I protect myself from getting walking pneumonia?

The best way to prevent walking pneumonia is similar to how you would avoid other contagious illnesses: wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available), stay away from people who are noticeably sick and take steps to keep your immune system strong, such as eating healthy foods, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep.

If you are sick, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze so you don’t spread the illness. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the bend of your arm (by your elbow), rather than into your hand, where germs can spread more easily.

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_{Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD}