The increase in mobile pneumonia affects high-risk groups, said Dr. Marc Siegel

Cases of so-called “walking pneumonia” are on the rise in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned.

The highly contagious infection mostly affected young children, according to the same source.

Between March 31 and October 5 of this year, the percentage of cases increased from 1% to 7.2% for children aged 2 to 4, and from 3.6% to 7.4% for those aged 5 to -17, said the organization.

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Fox News Digital spoke on camera with Dr. Marc Siegel, chief medical analyst for Fox News, on what people need to know about the condition.

What is walking pneumonia?

Also known as “atypical pneumonia,” pneumonia is a “small lung disease,” as defined by the Cleveland Clinic. It often feels like a bad cold or flu.

Usually caused by bacteria, viruses or fungal exposure, this condition causes inflammation in the airways and fluid in the lungs.

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“Walking pneumonia is less than full lobar pneumonia, where the entire area of ​​the lung is cleared of bacteria or virus,” Siegel told Fox News Digital.

“Walking pneumonia usually refers to patchy pneumonia, where the pathogen affects one area of ​​the lung.”

Symptoms of infection

Symptoms of atypical pneumonia may include the following, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Sore throat, low-grade fever, chest pain and cough are some of the common symptoms of atypical pneumonia. (Stock)

• Sore throat
• Extreme fatigue
• Chest pain or discomfort
• A low-grade fever
• The cold is low
• Cough (usually a long-lasting symptom)
• Sneezing
• A headache

The type of cough is the main difference between traditional and pedestrian pneumonia, according to Siegel.

“If you have tuberculosis, pneumonia caused by bacteria, you will be coughing green, brown or dark yellow,” he said.

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“But with pneumonia, it may be white mucus … or maybe you don't have a cough at all.”

The condition also does not cause the high fever associated with full-blown pneumonia, he noted.

As the name suggests, you may be able to walk around and do your daily activities with this mild form of pneumonia.

A cough is one of the lingering symptoms of pneumonia, although it may not be a productive cough. (Stock)

“You don't come with bacterial pneumonia with a high blood cell count and a high fever and chest pain,” Siegel said.

Even if it seems mild, however, this type of infection may require medical attention, the doctor warned.

“A doctor who doesn't look at this might mistake it for another type of virus.”

This condition is easy to miss, as the symptoms are often mistaken for one another, according to Siegel.

“A doctor who doesn't look at this might mistake it for a different type of virus, and not realize it could be a rare bacterial pneumonia,” he told Fox News Digital.

Complications of traveling with pneumonia

Several different types of bacteria can lead to pneumonia, Siegel notes, primarily Mycoplasma.

“This is Mycoplasma season,” he said. “That's an HIV virus that can be treated with certain antibiotics.”

Bordetella pertussis, the virus that causes whooping cough, can lead to pneumonia, warns a doctor. (Stock)

Bordetella pertussis, the bacterium that causes whooping cough, can lead to pneumonia.

“There's been a huge outbreak of pertussis this year, especially in very young children,” Siegel said.

“What worries me is that we are looking at bacteria that can go away quickly if we treat them with antibiotics.”

Legionella, another bacteria that can cause pneumonia, can be spread through water or air-conditioning units, he warned.

Certain viruses, such as RSV, can cause pneumonia.

“While the flu doesn't usually cause pneumonia, it can cause secondary pneumonia when you get these infections on top of the flu — the same thing with COVID,” Siegel noted.

“Although the flu usually does not cause pneumonia, it can cause secondary pneumonia when you get these infections on top of the flu,” warns the doctor. (Stock)

The resurgence of these viruses and pneumonia-causing bacteria could be a result of the delay in wearing masks and the closure of places that occurred during the violence, the doctor said.

“On top of that, we don't vaccinate the way we should,” he said. “And doctors are not watching enough … I urge them to be aware of unusual pneumonia.”

Who is most at risk?

Siegel said he is very concerned about young children getting these viruses, because they may not have the strength to protect them because they don't have perfect lungs.

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“I am also worried about the elderly, the disabled and those with chronic diseases – especially lung diseases such as asthma and emphysema, as they may not have the space they need to fight it,” he said.

If the virus is behind the pneumonia, it may go away without treatment, Siegel said, but it can persist for a long time.

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“What worries me is that we don't see bacteria that can disappear quickly if we can treat them with antibiotics,” said the doctor.

“Things like mycoplasma, legionella, pertussis – that's what I'm most worried about here.”

A healthcare provider can diagnose pneumonia by doing a physical exam, listening to the patient's lungs, doing blood tests and/or doing a chest X-ray. (Stock)

A health care provider can diagnose pneumonia by doing a physical exam, listening to the patient's lungs, doing a blood test and/or doing a chest X-ray, the Cleveland Clinic says.

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Bacterial pneumonia is treated with antibiotics. For viral pneumonias, over-the-counter medications can help relieve symptoms.

Experts also recommend drinking plenty of fluids, getting plenty of rest and keeping the airways open by using a ventilator.