{"id":118724,"date":"2024-10-26T21:56:36","date_gmt":"2024-10-26T14:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=118724"},"modified":"2024-10-26T21:56:36","modified_gmt":"2024-10-26T14:56:36","slug":"as-walking-pneumonia-cases-rise-nationally-how-does-western-pa-fare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=118724","title":{"rendered":"As walking pneumonia cases rise nationally, how does Western Pa. fare?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storyContent\">\n<p>With cold and flu season heating up, cases of walking pneumonia are increasing across the United States. But is the illness on the rise in Western Pennsylvania as well?<\/p>\n<p>Local health care experts shared mixed thoughts.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"neFMT neFMT_body-subhead\">What is it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Walking pneumonia is a mild lung infection that can be caused by bacteria, viruses or mold, <a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/15744-pneumonia-atypical-walking-pneumonia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according to the Cleveland Clinic.<\/a> Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, sore throat, headache, mild chills and a low-grade fever.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s different from pneumonia because walking pneumonia usually doesn\u2019t require bed rest or hospitalization.<\/p>\n<p>The worst rates of the illness, which is caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae, are in young children ages 2 to 4, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince late spring, the number of infections caused by M. pneumoniae has been increasing, especially among young children,\u201d the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ncird\/whats-new\/mycoplasma-pneumoniae-infections-have-been-increasing.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CDC said in an Oct. 18 statement.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Though anyone can catch walking pneumonia, the Cleveland Clinic said people more likely to get it include those who:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Are 2 or younger.<\/li>\n<li>Are 65 or older.<\/li>\n<li>Have a weakened immune system (immunocompromised) or take immunosuppressant medications.<\/li>\n<li>Have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).<\/li>\n<li>Have asthma.<\/li>\n<li>Have emphysema.<\/li>\n<li>Live or work in crowded places, such as schools, dormitories, nursing homes or military barracks.<\/li>\n<li>Use tobacco products.<\/li>\n<li>Regularly use inhaled corticosteroids.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Pennsylvania Department of Health <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/content\/dam\/copapwp-pagov\/en\/health\/documents\/topics\/documents\/2024%20HAN\/2024-775-10-11-ADV-Mycoplasma.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">warned on Oct. 11<\/a> that cases were high across the commonwealth. However, not all Western Pennsylvania health systems have seen an increase.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"neFMT neFMT_body-subhead\">Affecting the region<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Pamela Schoemer, director of quality, safety and outcomes at UPMC Children\u2019s Community Pediatrics, said UPMC has \u201cdefinitely\u201d been seeing walking pneumonia cases \u2014 both in primary care and express care after hours.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPneumonia\u2019s a scary word to a lot of families because they\u2019ve had older members of the family have bad outcomes,\u201d Schoemer said.<\/p>\n<p>She said she believes it\u2019s at the hospital as well, but since it\u2019s a minor illness, most cases are taken care of before they reach that point.<\/p>\n<p>This year has \u201cabsolutely\u201d had an increase in walking pneumonia cases locally, according to Schoemer. She has seen an increase in the volume of visits to the doctor\u2019s office and phone calls to UPMC on the topic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re seeing it across the board, not in one age group more than another,\u201d she said. \u201cWe see it in school-age and adolescents because they\u2019re in school.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, increases in walking pneumonia are cyclical, Schoemer said, occurring about once or twice a decade.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThings just happen in cycles. We were all away from each other a little bit during the pandemic, and we actually had lower sick seasons,\u201d she said. \u201cOver the last season or two, we are seeing this \u2026 younger kids might not have seen this bacteria before so they are more susceptible to it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to the Cleveland Clinic, walking pneumonia is common, and the number of cases fluctuates, with spikes every three to seven years.<\/p>\n<p>At Allegheny Health Network, there also has been an increase in walking pneumonia cases, according to Dr. Michael Petrosky, physician lead at AHN Pediatrics Arcadia.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think we\u2019ve diagnosed a lot more recently,\u201d he said. \u201cMaybe every few weeks we would see one. Now, a couple times a week we\u2019re seeing it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>People who have walking pneumonia won\u2019t always seem \u201csuper sick,\u201d Petrosky said, as the illness presents differently. However, he said coughing a lot is a main sign.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve definitely seen a lot of different viral infections going up,\u201d he said, not just walking pneumonia. \u201cEven after covid \u2026 kids are just getting back together more.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A recent nationwide whooping cough surge has <a href=\"https:\/\/triblive.com\/local\/regional\/pennsylvania-hit-hardest-by-nationwide-whooping-cough-outbreak\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">infected nearly 2,200 Pennsylvanians<\/a>, outpacing every other state and putting medical experts on high alert.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, Dr. William Jenkins, director of emergency medicine at Independence Health Frick Hospital in Mt. Pleasant, said he and his partners haven\u2019t seen an increase in walking pneumonia cases \u2014 but rather, an average amount.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think in the emergency department, it\u2019s always difficult to determine specific cause on X-ray,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019re seeing more cases than normal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pneumonia overall has been \u201csteady\u201d as well, not just for walking pneumonia, according to Jenkins.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLate October into flu and respiratory season, we start to see more pneumonia cases,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re probably very consistent with seasonal spikes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jenkins said sometimes numbers are dependent on how many people are actually going to the doctor to get checked out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe disease is probably as prevalent in our community as others,\u201d he said. \u201cHow many people staying home not getting checked, not doing blood tests?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"neFMT neFMT_body-subhead\">Prevention<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If someone has a persistent cough or fever, they should definitely be evaluated by their primary care doctor, Petrosky advised.<\/p>\n<p>Walking pneumonia can sometimes be diagnosed by hearing a person\u2019s lungs during an exam, but other times, people need a chest X-ray to diagnose if there are \u201cenough concerning symptoms,\u201d he said. Doctors will hear abnormal sounds in lungs, according to Petrosky.<\/p>\n<p>Similar to other illnesses, health care professionals said preventive measures should include hand-washing, trying not to touch your face, avoiding sick people, covering your mouth when you cough and sneeze, using hand sanitizer and making sure immunizations are up to date.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just normal hygiene habits,\u201d Jenkins said.<\/p>\n<p>Ideally, people should stay home if they\u2019re sick to avoid spreading the illness, he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe still see a lot of people showing up at work sick,\u201d Jenkins said. \u201cStay home so you can avoid affecting our co-workers, friends and families.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Walking pneumonia is transmitted through typical respiratory transmission just like the common cold, he said.<\/p>\n<p>The illness is contagious, according to Petrosky, but not as contagious as the flu, for example. In order for transmission to occur, there has to be \u201cpretty close contact for a decent amount of time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe bacteria\u2019s out there,\u201d he said. \u201cA lot of times, usually there\u2019s some trigger \u2014 weather changes, cool air \u2026 lung tissue gets a little irritated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to Schoemer, though, not everyone who is exposed to the bacteria will end up getting walking pneumonia, as the illness could settle in their ear or become a sinus infection.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPneumonia oftentimes will start as a virus,\u201d she said, and symptoms could take a few days to develop.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re exposed to walking pneumonia, Schoemer said to talk to your physician to see if you need treatment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you\u2019re out and about, listen to how many people are coughing,\u201d she said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of people that are showing symptoms.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The coughing related to walking pneumonia doesn\u2019t go away quickly, according to Schoemer, sometimes lasting up to six weeks. But that can be a good thing because coughing helps to get rid of the illness.<\/p>\n<p>Petrosky said usually if walking pneumonia is treated within a couple days, people start to feel better. Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines often are used to treat walking pneumonia, he said, but it depends on the age of the patient.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes, a cough gets a little bit worse before it gets better,\u201d he said. \u201cUsually after a couple days, symptoms start to improve.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- ccpa version--><br \/>\n<!-- Health Playlist -->\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">Megan Swift is a TribLive reporter covering trending news in Western Pennsylvania. A Murrysville native, she joined the Trib full time in 2023 after serving as editor-in-chief of The Daily Collegian at Penn State. She previously worked as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the Trib for three summers. She can be reached at mswift@triblive.com. <\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/triblive.com\/local\/regional\/as-walking-pneumonia-cases-rise-nationally-how-does-western-pa-fare\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With cold and flu season heating up, cases of walking pneumonia are increasing across the United States. But is the illness on the rise in Western Pennsylvania as well? Local &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=118724\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-118724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=118724"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118724\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=118724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=118724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=118724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}