Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Summary
The terms “walking pneumonia” and “pneumonia” are sometimes used interchangeably, but the two conditions are not quite the same.
“Walking pneumonia” is a colloquial term that is used to describe milder cases of pneumonia. Also known asatypical pneumonia, walking pneumonia does not usually cause the symptoms of a high fever and a productive cough that often characterize pneumonia.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
Still, walking pneumonia should not be overlooked, as both walking pneumonia and pneumonia can cause serious illness and hospitalization if left untreated.
This article will help you learn about the differences between the two types of pneumonia.
The symptoms of walking pneumonia and pneumonia resemble each other but differ in their severity.
Pneumonia symptomsvary among children, adults, and older people, but in most cases you will experience one or more of the following:
The symptoms of walking pneumonia are generally milder than those of pneumonia.
Your symptoms ofsore throat, headache, malaise (general feeling of not being well), and low-grade fever may be so mild that they may not interrupt your day-to-day routine. But don’t be fooled: Walking pneumonia can make you feel terrible, and the best way to recover is to take care of yourself and address your symptoms.
The germs that cause walking pneumonia and pneumonia are the same. Viruses, bacteria, or fungi that affect the lungs can trigger either condition, but there are certain pathogens that are more common in one versus the other.
The following are the most common bacterial causes of walking pneumonia:
The most common causes of pneumonia are viruses, namely theinfluenza virus(the flu), and bacteria.
Whether your pneumonia iscommunity-acquired pneumonia(CAP) or hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) largely determines the type of bacteria that will cause your infection.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial cause of CAP, but other common germs include:
Viruses can also cause CAP. In fact, viral infection, like having the flu,puts you at higher risk of getting bacterial pneumonia, which is often more severe than viral. Aside from the influenza virus, the following viruses can also cause CAP:
Walking pneumonia is usually diagnosed through a physical examination and does not require the same extensive testing that is used in the diagnosis of pneumonia.
Additionally, these tests can help differentiate between pneumonia and walking pneumonia and rule out other potential causes of your symptoms.
Walking pneumonia is usually mild and goes away on its own with:
Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics if they believe that a bacterium is the cause.
The best way to manage your pneumonia is to identify the underlying cause and provide medications that are best suited to eliminate the root cause of your lung infection.
Increasing your fluid intake and using cough medicine, decongestants, and fever and pain reducers may also be helpful. However, they should not be used in place of antibiotics or antifungals when bacteria or fungi are the cause.
The best ways to protect yourself are to:
Although walking pneumonia rarely leads to hospitalization or death in healthy people, it can cause serious complications in young children, older adults, and those who are immunocompromised. Even in generally healthy people, symptoms of walking pneumonia can make you feel miserable.
If you are feeling any of the symptoms associated with pneumonia, see a healthcare provider immediately so you can jump-start your recovery.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Pneumonia.BMJ Best Practices.Hospital-acquired pneumonia (non COVID-19).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumonia can be prevented—vaccines can help.Simet SM, Sisson JH.Alcohol’s effects on lung health and immunity.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):199-208.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Pneumonia.BMJ Best Practices.Hospital-acquired pneumonia (non COVID-19).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumonia can be prevented—vaccines can help.Simet SM, Sisson JH.Alcohol’s effects on lung health and immunity.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):199-208.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Pneumonia.BMJ Best Practices.Hospital-acquired pneumonia (non COVID-19).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumonia can be prevented—vaccines can help.Simet SM, Sisson JH.Alcohol’s effects on lung health and immunity.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):199-208.
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Pneumonia.
BMJ Best Practices.Hospital-acquired pneumonia (non COVID-19).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumonia can be prevented—vaccines can help.
Simet SM, Sisson JH.Alcohol’s effects on lung health and immunity.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):199-208.
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