What Is Walking Pneumonia?

Comparison To Other Types Of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a condition where patients experience airway inflammation due to an infection by a virus, fungus, or bacteria. Walking pneumonia, as mentioned, includes mild cases of pneumonia in an individual. An individual with walking pneumonia experiences a mild fever during their illness, where a patient with pneumonia experiences a high fever that exceeds 101 degrees Fahrenheit. A walking pneumonia patient will experience a non-productive dry cough for several weeks, while someone with pneumonia will experience a mucus or phlegm-producing cough. Both forms of pneumonia are known to produce headaches, loss of appetite, sore throat, and chills. An individual who has pneumonia will experience pain in their chest when breathing and shortness of breath, whereas a walking pneumonia patient will experience chest pain and labored breathing. Individuals who have pneumonia are most often treated in a hospital, while those with walking pneumonia rarely require hospitalization.

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