Can walking pneumonia get worse?

The symptoms of walking pneumonia are typically mild and look like the common cold. Symptoms may be gradual at first (showing up about two weeks after exposure) and get worse over the course of a month.

What are the signs and symptoms of walking pneumonia?

Other symptoms that may include: chills. flu-like symptoms. rapid breathing. wheezing. labored breathing. chest pain. abdominal pain.

When to take antibiotics if you have walking pneumonia?

Get as much rest as possible. Walking pneumonia is contagious when infected. A person can typically only infect others during the 10-day period of when his or her symptoms are most severe. Antibiotics are generally prescribed based on the type of bacterium that’s causing your pneumonia.

Why is walking pneumonia considered an atypical infection?

It might just feel like a common cold and can go unnoticed as pneumonia. Most people are able to carry on with their daily lives. This type of pneumonia is considered atypical due to the fact that the cells causing the infection are resistant to penicillin, the drug that is normally used to treat pneumonia.

What to do if you have community acquired pneumonia?

People who have community-acquired pneumonia usually can be treated at home with medication. Although most symptoms ease in a few days or weeks, the feeling of tiredness can persist for a month or more. Specific treatments depend on the type and severity of your pneumonia, your age and your overall health. The options include: Antibiotics.

What are the symptoms of walking pneumonia in adults?

Walking pneumonia can cause the following symptoms in kids and adults: Persistent, hacking cough. Weakness. Tiredness. Low-grade fever. Appetite loss. Headache. Discomfort with deep breathing. Worsening asthma symptoms.

When to see a doctor for walking pneumonia?

If you report having a cough that won’t go away, the ability to function but feeling generally unwell, with a gradual onset of symptoms, doctors will consider walking pneumonia as a possibility. The stethoscope exam helps doctors pinpoint your specific respiratory condition.

What are the symptoms of community acquired pneumonia?

Common symptoms include fever (positive likelihood ratio [LR+] = 4.5), chills, pleuritic chest pain, and a cough producing mucopurulent sputum.

How long does a bad cough last with walking pneumonia?

A bad cough can linger for weeks, or even months, especially for those who have preexisting lung conditions. According to the CDC, most people will recover from walking pneumonia on their own—meaning, they don’t need antibiotics and their bodies fight the infection naturally. But it depends on a person’s immune system.