Feeling sick, but not bedridden? Walking pneumonia is a milder case of pneumonia which often causes symptoms mild enough to continue your normal daily functions. However, just because you’re feeling up to fighting through your symptoms doesn’t mean you should. Walking pneumonia is caused by a bacteria called Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and it often requires medical intervention to treat it effectively. This article will review several signs you shouldn’t ignore that might show you have walking pneumonia.

If you’re feeling sick, it is important that you don’t ignore your symptoms. Delaying medical care could allow your illness to worsen and potentially turn into a secondary infection like walking pneumonia. At AFC Urgent Care Waltham, our walk-in urgent care clinic offers same-day illness care for patients near Waltham, MA - all on a walk-in basis. Visit the clinic today for rapid care!

Signs of Walking Pneumonia

The term ‘walking’ in it alludes to the fact that despite the overall weakness accompanying it, the affected can still move around. Despite it seeming like a mild illness, you should still take care and treat this condition as quickly as possible. Walking pneumonia is an infection that forms following another illness, so the origin can be viral or bacterial and typically requires treatment to resolve.

Symptoms of walking pneumonia include:

• Cough
• Sneezing
• Discolored phlegm
• Nose congestion
• Sore throat
• Mild fatigue
• Chills
• Low fever
• Chest pain
• General discomfort
• Headache
• Shortness of breath and wheezing
• Body aches

Preventing Walking Pneumonia

• Avoid Contact With Infected Individuals:
  Walking pneumonia is quite communicable and within a day after catching it, you might start having chills and other symptoms. The bacterium spreads through droplets spewed out from anyone infected when they sneeze or cough. That’s why you should take care to avoid getting any of that on you.
• Wash Your Hands, Nose and Mouth:
  Avoiding exposure to these droplets may be nigh-impossible, especially when you live with someone who’s already contracted or have to go out to public places. In such a situation, what you should do is regularly wash your hands, nose, and mouth to get rid of any bacteria. It’s possible that not enough time has passed for you to get infected and you can still get rid of the pathogen.
• Get Your Seasonal Flu Shot:
  The flu is also highly responsible for causing walking pneumonia, especially if it isn’t treated properly, but by getting your seasonal flu shot, you are reducing the risk of getting pneumonia as a result of cascading complications caused by the flu.
• Avoid Crowded Areas During Winter and Fall:
  Another strategy to adopt is to avoid crowded places, especially during the fall and winter. During these seasons, it is quite easy for pneumonia to go around due to the easily compromised immunity and the flu.

Treatment For Walking Pneumonia

To treat walking pneumonia, there are home remedies and other medical means such as;

1. At-home Care

Just because you can push through your symptoms and move around without any problem doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take some time to rest. Getting extra rest is what the body needs to fight off this infection. You also have to drink plenty of fluids and hydrate regularly, as it, alongside getting rest, allows your body to function properly and build immunity against the bacteria responsible for it.

2. Antibiotics

Since walking pneumonia is often caused by bacteria, antibiotics are a reasonable response to treating it. The antibiotics have to be prescribed by the doctor because walking pneumonia can also be caused by viruses and using antibiotics for viral problems will yield no reasonable result.

3. Nasal Decongestants

Another route to take is by using nasal decongestants. Why? Because the swelling in the lungs can be caused by nasal drip, which decongestants can take care of. You can also make use of a humidifier, and also chest decongestants to help clear off excess fluids in the air sac.

4. Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.

Drugs like these are especially useful for treating pneumonia, which is caused by swelling and inflammation in the lungs. Many over-the-counter medications are available to help you combat discomfort and reduce irritation within the lungs to help you heal faster.

Possible Complications Caused By Walking Pneumonia

Here are some complications that walking pneumonia can cascade into;

• Full-blown pneumonia
• Anemia
• Bronchitis
• Worsening Asthma

If walking pneumonia is not treated quickly enough it can continue to worsen over time. This can lead to symptoms becoming worse and more severe. It is important to seek immediate treatment if you think you may have walking pneumonia so that you can manage your symptoms effectively and fight off the infection as quickly as possible.

Visit AFC Urgent Care Waltham for Same-Day Illness Care

If you’re feeling sick, it is always important to seek medical care. Minor illnesses can sometimes continue to worsen over time, potentially leading to serious infections. At AFC Urgent Care Waltham, our walk-in clinic makes it easy to get rapid illness diagnosis and treatment. Our clinic is open 7 days a week and accepts walk-in patients. We accept most medical insurance plans, and offer affordable rates for self-paying patients. Walk into the clinic today!