Walking pneumonia

Walking pneumonia, also known as mycoplasma pneumonia, is commonly seen in the Summer and Fall. The CDC has recently reported an increase in the number of cases this Fall. While this has historically been an illness seen in school aged children and young adults, this year there have been cases reported in children as young as age 2. Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, headache and gradually worsening cough. The illness is spread by respiratory droplets, meaning through coughing or sneezing. The incubation period (the time from exposure to onset of symptoms) is between one and four weeks which is longer than with other types of respiratory illnesses. Because the symptoms are similar to many other respiratory illnesses, diagnosis can be challenging. Some patients can be diagnosed clinically while others will require a chest X ray. While some patients with fairly mild symptoms may recover on their own, others may need an antibiotic.