Increase in ‘Walking Pneumonia’ Reported Among Kentucky Children

A couple of weeks ago, my son Rollins came down with a nasty cough and was super congested. He doesn't get sick often (knock on wood) so when it took him out, I knew it was worth going to the doctor to see what was going on.

During the visit, the doctor listened to his lungs which sounded clear considering the crud he had going on. With his high fever and symptoms, she said she thought he had some sort of virus. She also told us that she had seen an increase in kids coming in sick without any sign of complications ending up with Pneumonia. Even though they didn't have the classic "lung crackle" sound.  We were sent to have a chest x-ray done, and sure enough. He had Pneumonia in both of his lungs.

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Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced an increase in respiratory infections caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumonie. Young children seem to be the demographic most affected recently.

"M. pneumoniae infections are generally mild and mostly present as a chest cold but may also present as pneumonia. Symptom onset is typically gradual and can include fever, cough, and a sore throat. When an M. pneumoniae infection progresses to pneumonia, it's typically a less severe form of bacterial pneumonia commonly referred to as "walking pneumonia."

Here are some symptoms of Pneumonia to look out for:

• fever/chills
• cough
• chest pain/pressure
• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• sore throat
• headache
• diarrhea
• wheezing
• vomiting

If you notice a combination of these signs, especially if your child is having trouble breathing or wheezing, please take them to their doctor or urgent care. I knew I needed to take my son in because he couldn't get a good breath while he was trying to talk. Pneumonia can get really bad, really fast so don't wait it out if you have a feeling it could be more than just a cold.

Chances are, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to get your little one feeling better. They'll need to drink lots of water and rest while also moving around to rustle up that congestion to cough up. Mucinex is your friend!

To hopefully avoid this altogether, make sure you wash your hands diligently! This infection is spread through droplets from coughing and sneezing.