Walking pnuemonia

[flyhi]

ok, this is seriously off any type of pre-vet, interview, acceptance topic but while we are all waiting for the stinking schools to open back up (the holiday schedule has been torturous this year) i have a question....

i have convinced myself that i have walking pneumonia (not really, but something is amiss) and just curious if anyone has experienced it either firsthand or even secondhand? What are the symptoms and why in the heck is it called 'walking' pnuemonia? Does it go away on its own, or do you always have to take antibiotics?

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[rocuronium]

... why in the heck is it called 'walking' pnuemonia?

The term 'walking pneumonia' just means that you can still walk while having pneumonia. This is in contrast to someone who is hospitalized and presumably cannot. Essentially it just describes a pneumonia of lesser severity.

 

[sumstorm]

For me, walking pneumonia felt like a huge weight was resting on my chest and shoulders at the same time. I also felt like I had inhaled water, and like I couldn't breath all the way out. Talking for more than a few sentences was difficult, physical activity, including moderatly paced walks of only a few minutes, made all of my symptoms worse. I coughed a lot, but it was a very deep productive cough, not like anything I had with flus or colds. I also ran a 101-102 fever with the accompanying chills and sweats.

Pneumonia can be caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. Walking just means the symptoms are relatively mild (which still means you will be exhausted and weak, just not in a hospital. Many doctors try antibiotics first, but if it is viral or fungal...well, antibiotics won't help. Mycoplasma often causes milder walking pneumonia and can be treated with erythromycin.