Infections from a bacteria that commonly causes “walking pneumonia” have been on the rise this year, according to information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The center cited an especially high rise in infections in young children.
Walking pneumonia, generally a milder lung infection than “just” pneumonia, can cause symptoms including cough, sore throat, and low-grade fever. This means it may overlap with symptoms of COVID (which continues to circulate), flu (which typically starts peaking in December), and other respiratory viruses, such as RSV.
As the weather cools down and people gather near one another around the holidays, a perfect storm brews for viruses and infections to spread. The general guidance on what to do if you are sick likely doesn’t matter much based on what caused it: stay home if you feel unwell, be especially cognizant of limiting contact with people who may be at a higher risk of severe illness or hospitalization. However, finding out what you have is important to get appropriate treatment, such as antiviral medication for a virus, or antibiotics for pneumonia. Antibiotics do not treat viruses because they kill bacteria.
Here’s everything you need to know about the symptoms of the flu and COVID-19, along with some indicators that you may be ill with a virus instead of allergies (or vice versa). For additional information, see our advice on the vaccines that adults 50 and older should think about getting, as well as how to get more free COVID testing so you’re prepared for winter.
