KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — What can seem like a small fever or a cough at first can later develop into a severe kind of illness without patients realizing it. "Walking pneumonia" has been diagnosed more frequently at Knox County hospitals, according to the local health department.
The illness gets its name because despite being caused by a strain of bacteria responsible for pneumonia, symptoms are not severe at first. People may not stay at home if symptoms are not severe.
Usually, the symptoms appear like a chest cold at first, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As the infection continues, people can develop a mild form of pneumonia. However, complications can arise from the infection that requires hospital care. It can lead to worsening asthma, severe pneumonia or even encephalitis.
"We're seeing waves of cases, going up every two to three weeks," said Dr. Megan Edwards with the Knox County Health Department. "This is something to be aware of, but not be overly concerned at the moment."
Symptoms that last for 10 days or longer could be a sign of walking pneumonia. Unlike the flu or COVID-19, there is also no at-home test for it. So, people need to visit a clinic to be diagnosed.
"The traditional treatment will be antibiotics," said Edwards. "We're seeing about every three to seven years we'll see a bigger peak. It depends on the immunity of the population."
She also warned that walking pneumonia can be contagious. Someone who has it may not realize they're spreading the infection if they don't stay home. So, anyone who feels sick should make sure to see a doctor and rest at home to recover.