MEDICAL INSIDER-DR BRYAN
WALKING PNEUMONIA
(Part 3)
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): Dr. Bryan, in our conversation last week, I asked you if Walking Pneumonia is contagious. Your answer was, yes. You said that Walking Pneumonia is contagious. You also said that usually, Walking Pneumonia is brought to our homes by family members who get it from from the outside. When they come home, they infect family members. It’s spread through airborne droplets from close contact, such as coughing, sneezing or speaking. People with lowered immunity may get more severely ill.
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: That is true.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): How long can one be contagious with Walking Pneumonia?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: If one has walking pneumonia, the person is contagious for two to four weeks before symptoms appear (incubation period). During this period which we call as the incubation period, the person probably won’t realize that he is contagious and spreading Walking Pneumonia. Once the symptoms start, the person becomes contagious until the symptoms end.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): If one has Walking Pneumonia, is it advisable for him to report to work? Will he not be adding risk to the co-workers?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: With walking pneumonia, a person can usually go about his everyday work even though he will have symptoms, including cough, fatigue, and, sometimes, fever.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): Can Walking Pneumonia be treated?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: Antibiotics are an effective treatment for walking pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. A 5 to 10 day course of oral antibiotics would be a good treatment. If the doctor would prescribe antibiotics, make sure the child patient child takes them on schedule as directed.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): If Walking Pneumonia is not treated, is it dangerous?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: According to medical records, if left undiagnosed and the symptoms are ignored, walking pneumonia can result in some additional complications. While it is true that that these complications may occur in extremely rare cases, and not all patients will develop them, it is still best to treat Walking Pneumonia properly as these complications can turn fatal.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): Is it good to take hot showers when you have pneumonia?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: It is said that moisture in the air you inhale helps loosen the mucus in your lungs. Take warm baths or showers, so you can breathe in the steam. Since you can’t stay in the bathroom all the time, you could also set up a humidifier in your house to give the air more moisture. (To be continued)