MUNDRIDGE, Kan. (KWCH) – Doctors are warning parents about an increase in cases of walking pneumonia. Although typically common among school-age children and older adults, recent data from the CDC shows that rates in infants have increased in recent weeks and are now comparable to rates in older children.

As the weather gets colder, an increase in colds, flu and other diseases is expected.

Dr. from Partners and Family Care in Moundridge. “It usually starts with congestion, fever, body aches, headaches, then progresses to cough and chest congestion,” said Olivia Gehring. “This is a type of pneumonia caused by atypical bacteria. It presents with milder symptoms and progresses more slowly.”

This year, walking pneumonia has spread at unusually high levels among young children. According to the latest CDC data, in the week ending Nov. 2, 7.6% of ED pneumonia cases in infants ages 0 to 1 and children ages 5 to 17 were diagnosed with walking pneumonia.

“The good thing about this is that many healthy people develop it, but they will clear it themselves,” Gehring said. “If the problem has been going on for five days, a week, and it’s not getting better, that’s when we start thinking about antibiotics and we start thinking it’s time to step in.”

Some doctors state that many diseases have decreased significantly during the pandemic period, thanks to social distance measures. As a result, people are now exposed to diseases they were not exposed to before.

Fortunately, walking pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics and over-the-counter medications, and most people with mild lung infections usually recover independently.

Dr. To help limit the spread of illness, Gehring recommends washing hands frequently, staying home when feeling unwell, and ensuring vaccinations are up to date.

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