What are the signs of walking pneumonia?

Author: Janet Parisian  |  Last update: Saturday, July 5, 2025

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Walking Pneumonia?
  • a fever of 101°F (38.5°C) or below.
  • a cough that can last for weeks to months.
  • fatigue (feeling very tired)
  • headache, chills, sore throat, and other cold or flu-like symptoms.
  • ear pain.
  • chest pain or stomach pain.
  • malaise (feeling of discomfort)
  • vomiting.

How do you tell if you have walking pneumonia?

Walking pneumonia can still be miserable and is commonly accompanied by a cough, fever, chest pain, mild chills, headache, etc. It feels more akin to a bad cold, and despite what the term "walking" implies, taking care of yourself is the best path to recovery.

What can be mistaken for walking pneumonia?

In so-called walking pneumonia, the major physical symptoms are either milder or, in some cases, not present at all. They can be confused for a cold or the flu.

How do I treat myself for walking pneumonia?

A provider may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) medications to help relieve nasal congestion, cough and mucus buildup in your chest. You can help open your airways by drinking plenty of warm fluids, using a humidifier or taking a hot bath or shower. If you have a fever, it's a good idea to drink more fluids and rest.

Should I go to urgent care or er for pneumonia?

The infection can be treated at home, but if the condition is severe, you must find an ER near you. For home treatment, antibiotics can treat bacterial, mycoplasma, and other kinds of pneumonia. However, cases of viral pneumonia tend to get better on their own – even without treatment.

What is walking pneumonia?

What are the beginning stages of pneumonia?

Early symptoms are similar to influenza symptoms: fever, a dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within a day or two, the symptoms typically get worse, with increasing cough, shortness of breath and muscle pain. There may be a high fever and there may be blueness of the lips.

What are the red flags for coughing?

Signs Your Cough Is Serious and Needs Urgent Care

A persistent cough with a fever. Thick green or yellow phlegm. Fainting or shortness of breath.

What does a pneumonia cough sound like?

What does a pneumonia cough sound like? This will depend on the type of pneumonia you have and be either a dry or chesty cough. Bacterial pneumonia is more serious and often results in a gurgling sound when breathing and mucus or phlegm when coughing.

Can your body fight off walking pneumonia on its own?

Although walking pneumonia is generally mild and resolves on its own, talk to your doctor if your symptoms include: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Persistent fever that doesn't improve with medication. Chest pain that worsens with deep breathing or coughing.

What's the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia?

Bronchitis, which is typically caused by a virus, mainly affects the bronchial tubes, the passages that carry air to your lungs. Pneumonia, on the other hand, is an infection of the lungs themselves and can be caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi.

What else could it be if it's not pneumonia?

Serious medical conditions sometimes mistaken for pneumonia include: Acute respiratory distress / failure. Bronchitis. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

What are the RSV symptoms?

The most common symptoms of RSV include:
  • Runny nose.
  • Fever.
  • Cough.
  • Short periods without breathing (apnea)
  • Trouble eating, drinking, or swallowing.
  • Wheezing.
  • Flaring of the nostrils or straining of the chest or stomach while breathing.
  • Breathing faster than normal, or trouble breathing.

What are silent pneumonia symptoms?

Symptoms may include:
  • Cough.
  • Fever.
  • Sore throat.
  • Headache.
  • Runny nose.
  • Ear pain.
  • Chest pain from coughing.

What is the crackling noise in my throat when I exhale?

Two issues often cause bibasilar crackles. One is the accumulation of mucus or fluid in the lungs. Another is a failure of parts of the lungs to inflate properly. The crackles themselves are not a disease, but they can be a sign of an illness or infection.

Will amoxicillin treat walking pneumonia?

While many community-acquired cases of pneumonia caused by bacteria are treated with antibiotics, the most prescribed ones, such as amoxicillin, don't always work for mycoplasma pneumonia, Dr. Murray says. But certain antibiotics, such as azithromycin, work well, so it's important to get the proper diagnosis, he says.

What are the four stages of walking pneumonia?

The four stages are:
  • Stage 1 congestion. In the first 24 hours of infection, only some bacteria and white blood cells to fight infection are present. ...
  • Stage 2 red hepatization. ...
  • Stage 3 gray hepatization. ...
  • Stage 4 resolution.

What are the symptoms of bronchitis in adults?

If you have acute bronchitis, you may have cold symptoms, such as:
  • Cough.
  • Production of mucus (sputum), which can be clear, white, yellowish-gray or green in color — rarely, it may be streaked with blood.
  • Sore throat.
  • Mild headache and body aches.
  • Slight fever and chills.
  • Fatigue.
  • Chest discomfort.

Can I have pneumonia without a fever?

Fever is a common symptom of pneumonia. However, in certain rare cases some people have pneumonia without fever or with only a very mild form of it. Several factors predispose people to develop pneumonia without fever: being very young (under age 2), being older than 65, or having a compromised immune system.

What does a RSV cough sound like?

Children with RSV typically have two to four days of upper respiratory tract symptoms, such as fever and runny nose/congestion. These are then followed by lower respiratory tract symptoms, like increasing wheezing cough that sounds wet and forceful with increased work breathing.

How do I check myself for pneumonia?

Symptoms of pneumonia
  1. a cough – you may cough up yellow or green mucus (phlegm)
  2. shortness of breath.
  3. a high temperature.
  4. chest pain.
  5. an aching body.
  6. feeling very tired.
  7. loss of appetite.
  8. making wheezing noises when you breathe – babies may also make grunting noises.

How to get phlegm out of your chest quickly?

Take a breath that is slightly deeper than normal. Use your stomach muscles to make a series of three rapid exhalations with the airway open, making a "ha, ha, ha" sound. Follow this by controlled diaphragmatic breathing and a deep cough if you feel mucus moving.

How do I stop uncontrollable coughing fits?

These include:
  1. drinking plenty of water.
  2. sipping hot water with honey.
  3. taking over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines.
  4. taking a steamy shower.
  5. using a humidifier in the home.
  6. using cough drops or hard candies.

Why does my throat tickle and make me cough?

If you have a cough, you could have a tickle in your throat due to acid reflux, use of certain medications, infection, allergies, asthma, or irritants in the environment. A tickle in your throat can often be relieved with at-home remedies, such as honeyed tea, throat lozenges, and getting plenty of rest and fluids.

How does honey help a cough?

Adding honey to warm water or tea, or just a spoonful of honey itself can help with coughs. "It has been shown to be more effective than over-the-counter cough medications," she says. Honey helps by soothing the throat and coating cough receptors.

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