Walking pneumonia is spreading in NC. Who’s most at risk? (+ how to protect yourself)
.png "CDC says walking pneumonia cases are climbing in children. Here’s what to know.")
Editor’s note: Find updated information about winter viruses circulating North Carolina here.
With COVID, flu and RSV season in full swing, there’s another respiratory virus North Carolinians should watch out for: walking pneumonia.
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the NC Department of Health and Human Services has been monitoring a rise in cases in the state. Children’s cases have led to hospitalization in Rowan County, the county’s health department said in a November press release.
UNC Hospitals reported 40 walking pneumonia cases during the last week of October, and the virus is still spreading, according to the North Carolina Medical Society. For comparison, there were almost no cases reported from the hospital chain during the same week last year.
The recent uptick in cases is due to a bacteria called Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Dr. Zach Willis, an associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases at UNC Children’s Hospital, told The Charlotte Observer.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a type of bacteria that can lead to respiratory tract infections, according to the CDC. It can damage the lining of the respiratory tract, including the throat, windpipe, and lungs.
“It can make you sick … but the vast majority of people who get it don’t need to be hospitalized,” Willis said. “Somebody can have walking pneumonia and it can be caused by influenza or RSV, even COVID.”
While symptoms may be mild for most, there are some groups that should be especially careful when it comes to the virus.
Here’s everything you need to know about walking pneumonia.
Who is most susceptible to walking pneumonia?
The most susceptible groups to pneumonia are young children and older adults, but the virus can affect teenagers and school-aged children, Willis said.
“They can get this and be really sick for a while,” said Willis. “However, that group of teenagers and school-aged kids are generally much less likely to require coming into the hospital compared to younger children and older folks.”
Severe cases can occur especially in young children and people with weakened immune systems, Rowan County’s health department said. Serious complications could include worsening asthma, severe pneumonia or, in rare cases, brain inflammation.
What are the symptoms of walking pneumonia?
The most common symptoms of walking pneumonia include fever, cough and difficulty breathing, Willis said, adding that some people can experience unusually high fevers.
“Some patients can have a fever of 103 or 104 degrees that goes on for several days,” said Willis. “That’s higher than most parents are used to seeing when their kids have a cold or ear infections.”
According to Cleveland Clinic, other symptoms can include:
Sore throat
Fatigue
Chest pain
Chills
Sneezing
Headache
How is walking pneumonia treated?
Walking pneumonia symptoms can go away on their own, but doctors can treat them with antibiotics, Willis said.
When mycoplasma is the cause of the virus, clinicians typically use azithromycin, a common drug for bacterial infections, to treat walking pneumonia.
Azithromycin comes as a tablet or liquid that is usually taken for one to five days, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Is there a vaccine for walking pneumonia?
There is no vaccine for Mycoplasma pneumoniae (i.e. walking pneumonia), but you can help prevent infections by practicing handwashing and good cough hygiene — coughing into your elbow or wearing a mask, Willis said.
Those who are diagnosed with walking pneumonia should avoid crowded settings, such as school or work, to reduce the chance of spreading the virus.
Is walking pneumonia spreading in NC?
Walking pneumonia’s peak has likely already happened in North Carolina, Willis said, but cases are still spreading. Doctors are expecting a surge in other respiratory viruses as we inch closer to late December holidays.
“The statistics I’m seeing are showing that it probably has peaked and is starting to wane, and it’s going to be replaced very soon by influenza, RSV and probably COVID as well,” Willis said. “But we do have vaccines for all of those things.”
Health officials have named this spike the “tripledemic,” which this year includes walking pneumonia in the group of illnesses, according to Charlotte-based Trucore Laboratories (which is offering free testing in the area this holiday season).
Almost everyone is eligible for the COVID and flu vaccines, and RSV vaccines are available for infants and adults over the age of 60, Willis said.
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Walking pneumonia is spreading in NC. Who’s most at risk? (+ how to protect yourself)."
