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A lingering cough can be worrisome for parents, especially with so many respiratory illnesses floating around these days. So how do you know if you have walking pneumonia, and what should parents do if they suspect walking pneumonia in kids?

Walking pneumonia is a common and milder form of pneumonia that develops gradually, starting with symptoms similar to a common cold, says UR Medicine pediatrician Sarah Collins-McGowan, MD. 鈥淜ids may feel up for walking around and doing their usual activities, even though they鈥檙e a little under the weather鈥攈ence the name.鈥�

Knowing the symptoms and how to help your child recover can make a big difference. Here鈥檚 what to look for, how it鈥檚 diagnosed, and the best ways to help your child recover.

What Are the Symptoms of Walking Pneumonia?

A bacteria called Mycoplasma pneumoniae can cause damage to the lining of the respiratory tract: the throat, windpipe, and lungs. Most infections are mild and seem like a simple cold. Only five to ten percent of people with this infection actually develop pneumonia. For most people, kids and adults alike, they can recover on their own at home.

Common symptoms include:

• Sore throat
• Low-grade fever
• Persistent cough

In younger children (aged four and under), symptoms may include:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Wheezing

Is Walking Pneumonia Contagious?

The good news is that it鈥檚 not as easily transmitted as other illnesses like COVID. But it is still contagious, spread through droplets from coughing or sneezing. It鈥檚 more likely to spread in crowded settings, like school or daycare, or inside a home. That鈥檚 why it will often sweep through entire families.

Is pneumonia contagious?

How Can I Help My Child Recover at Home?

People who get the illness should:

• Get plenty of rest
• Stay hydrated
• Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce fever and aches
• Soothe the cough with honey (but not for children under one year old)

When Should You See a Doctor?

So how do you know if you have walking pneumonia? Mild infections usually clear up in seven to ten days. If a cough or fever lasts longer than that, it鈥檚 time to see a doctor. Look out for these signs:

• Chest pain with the cough
• Difficulty breathing
  
  

鈥淲hen in doubt, you can always call your doctor or pediatrician for advice on when to come in,鈥� says Dr. Collins-McGowan.

At the doctor's office, a diagnosis is based on a physical exam:

• Reviewing the history (how long it has lasted)
• Listening to the lungs
• Possibly ordering a chest X-ray
  
  

A nasal or throat swab test may not be needed if the doctor can diagnose based on symptoms alone.