What Everyone Should Know About Walking Pneumonia

These days, when it comes to respiratory illness, flu and COVID-19 seem to get all the attention. And that’s understandable. Both have taken huge tolls on the country — medically, socially and financially. The flu for centuries and COVID-19, more recently.

But there’s another respiratory illness that you should also know about. Walking pneumonia is a milder lung infection usually caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria. In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a significant increase in walking pneumonia cases in the U.S.

Walking pneumonia is typically not life-threatening, like flu and COVID-19 can be. But it can cause people to be uncomfortable and miss work, school and important events. The more you know about walking pneumonia, the easier it is to protect yourself and your family.

Key Takeaways: Walking Pneumonia

• Walking pneumonia is a contagious illness usually caused by bacteria. It’s easy to confuse with the common cold.
• Early diagnosis and treatment may help speed recovery and prevent the spread of the illness to others.
• To lower your risk of walking pneumonia, avoid people who are sick, wash your hands frequently and remind family members to practice good cough etiquette.

Walking Pneumonia Vs. Cold

Walking pneumonia is what doctors more formally call atypical pneumonia. Unlike standard pneumonia, which you may be more familiar with, walking pneumonia is unlikely to require bed rest or hospital care. That’s where the name comes from.

“Typically, when we see someone who has walking pneumonia, they’re walking around,” said Matthew Lash, MD, a primary care doctor with Franciscan Physician Network Greenwood Parke Family Medicine.

Usually, people go about their normal routine. “They might feel a little sick but confuse their symptoms with a cold.”

A cold is caused by a virus. Viruses sometimes cause walking pneumonia, too. So do fungi. But while a cold usually resolves relatively quickly, the cough associated with walking pneumonia can linger — sometimes for weeks.

Walking Pneumonia Symptoms

Symptoms of walking pneumonia are similar to those experienced with common colds. In addition to cough, symptoms can include:

• Chest discomfort
• Fatigue
• Low-grade fever
• Mild chills
• Sore throat

“Most viruses last five to seven days,” said Dr. Lash. “If you’re not better by then, or getting better, you need to get in and see a doctor.”

How Doctors Diagnose Walking Pneumonia

To diagnose walking pneumonia, doctors do a physical exam and listen to your lungs. Typically, they order a chest X-ray, and sometimes, lab work. The X-ray can help distinguish walking pneumonia from standard pneumonia.

“There’s a typical picture on an X-ray,” said Dr. Lash. “Standard pneumonia usually appears in a single segment, or lobe, of the lung. Walking pneumonia is not just in one area — it’s kind of spread throughout the lung.”

Occasionally, early in the course of walking pneumonia, an X-ray will be clear, even though symptoms point to the condition. When that’s the case, the doctor may recommend that you return in two or three days, so they can see how you’re doing and repeat an X-ray, if needed.

Walking Pneumonia In Children Vs. Adults

Children experience many of the same symptoms as adults. But there can also be differences.

“Adults typically have the classic symptoms and the classic findings on X-ray,” said Dr. Lash.

Small children, however, might not complain of chest discomfort. And chest X-rays might not show a problem. Instead, a sore throat and stuffy nose may be a child’s chief complaints. Kids sometimes also develop a skin rash or ear infection.

Listening to the lungs is key to a diagnosis. Sometimes, doctors will test mucus samples as well.

Is Walking Pneumonia Contagious?

Walking pneumonia is highly contagious.

“It’s primarily transmitted through droplets,” said Dr. Lash. When someone coughs, sneezes or talks, droplets of fluid enter the air, where others can inhale them. The droplets may also land on countertops, door handles or other surfaces. If someone touches these surfaces and then touches their face, they may get sick.

The illness can develop at any time of year, but it’s more common in colder weather. “That’s when people are in closer contact,” said Dr. Lash.

People most at risk include older adults and very young children, smokers, and people with lung conditions or weakened immune systems. People who live in close quarters, such as dorms or military barracks, also have an increased risk.

Treatment And Walking Pneumonia Recovery Time

When bacteria cause walking pneumonia, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics. The illness can get better on its own, but early diagnosis and treatment may speed up your recovery and help keep the illness from spreading.

“If you’re given antibiotics, take them as recommended to completion,” said Dr. Lash.

People sometimes stop taking antibiotics too soon. But if you don’t complete your medicine, the illness may not go away completely. Over time, taking antibiotics incorrectly can also make the drugs less effective for others.

When a virus makes you sick, antibiotics won’t help. The illness must run its course. However, you do need anti-fungal medicines for fungal pneumonia. In all cases of walking pneumonia, doctors will advise you to get plenty of rest and drink fluids to help yourself feel better.

“Typically, recovery time is one to three weeks,” said Dr. Lash. “But you can cough for a long time afterwards.”

Other symptoms should improve. After 24 to 48 hours on antibiotics, you should no longer be contagious.

Prevention Is The Best Medicine

To prevent walking pneumonia, it’s best to avoid large crowds during outbreaks and steer clear of others when they’re sick. This may not be easy if they live in your home. But there are other prevention steps you can take.

“You need to wash your hands before you eat and before you touch your face,” said Dr. Lash. “That can really help avoid spread.”

Additionally, you should advise all family members to practice cough etiquette. Remind them to cough or sneeze into a tissue or the pit of their elbow.

Finally, Dr. Lash offers this advice for those under the weather and concerned it might be walking pneumonia: “Go see a doctor,” he said. “That’s what we’re here for.”