What Is Walking Pneumonia

George: Hi! I am George from Clearwater, Florida. I’d like to know what the expression means Walking Pneumonia?

Dr. Melissa McNeil: George, Walking Pneumonia is something we hear a lot. It actually doesn't really have a medical meaning. When doctors talk about walking pneumonia or patients say they have walking pneumonia, what they mean is, they have a mild pneumonia. And instead of having to be hospitalized and put in a bed, they are sent home on antibiotics and allowed to walk around.

So, if you have a pneumonia that means either the doctor heard something in your lungs or your chest x-ray showed evidence of a pneumonia, but you weren't sick enough to a prior hospitalization. So, you got your antibiotics, and you are sent home to walk around. That's a Walking Pneumonia.


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