Walking pneumonia cases spike: What Aussies must know

Respiratory illnesses are spreading across Australia. Here’s everything you need to know about walking pneumonia, how to detect it and how to treat it.

The respiratory illness known as walking pneumonia is on the rise in Australia, with an increase in cases documented across NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) President Dr Nicole Higgins recently said GPs should keep respiratory infections on their radar, especially due to the current antibiotics shortage.

“We’ve got a respiratory bug soup at the moment, it’s multiple bugs that are impacting especially our children. The general rule of thumb is if your child’s not getting better, get them checked out,” she said.

Here is everything you need to know about walking pneumonia and how to prevent the infection from spreading.

WHAT IS WALKING PNEUMONIA?

According to the NSW Department of Health, mycoplasma pneumoniae — better known as walking pneumonia — is a bacteria that mostly causes the respiratory illness.

The disease affects the throat, windpipe and lungs and while it is a less serious form of pneumonia, it can lead to it.

Walking pneumonia is most common in school-aged children but it can affect people of any age.

Many kids with the disease aren’t sick enough to stay at home, which is why it is called ‘walking’ pneumonia.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Symptoms usually appear one to four weeks after the person is infected with the bacteria and may persist for several weeks.

Mild infections can be managed safely at home without medicine, says the NSW Department of Health.

Symptoms of infection may include a sore throat, dry cough, headache, chills, fever, ear pain, tiredness and shortness of breath.

Children younger than five may have other symptoms including sneezing, runny rose, watery eyes, wheezing, vomiting and diarrhoea.

HOW DOES IT SPREAD?

Walking pneumonia is spread when infected people cough or sneeze on others who breathe in the droplets.

Additionally, it can spread by touching a surface or object that the droplets have landed on.

Someone can be infected with mycoplasma and show no symptoms, but still be able to spread it to others.

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

Doctors usually diagnose walking pneumonia by doing an exam.

If needed, they might order a chest X-ray or tests of mucus samples from the throat or nose to confirm the diagnosis.

HOW IS IT TREATED?

According to the NSW Department of Health, there is no vaccine for walking pneumonia.

Occasionally infections can be severe and need antibiotics.

If you have any symptoms of this respiratory infection, you should firstly stay at home.

If there is a need to leave the house, it’s important to wear a mask to stop the disease from spreading.

Wash your hands regularly and cover coughs and sneezes.

If you are sick, do not visit those who are at a higher risk of developing full-blown pneumonia. This includes babies, infants, older people and people who have a weakened immune system.

Originally published as Walking pneumonia cases spike: What Aussies must know