Walking pneumonia outbreaks among NYC children spikes in the fall

EAST HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11) — It's a health concern that usually spikes in the winter months, but right now, the Tri-state region is seeing a significant uptick in cases of walking pneumonia. 

The situation is becoming particularly intense among children. Some medical experts are warning families and trying to educate people about ways to prevent and combat the infection. 

The situation is even more noticeable right now because of the contrast between the unseasonably warm weather the region has been having lately and the conditions in which the increase in cases is occurring. 

"It's kind of worrying," said Beverly Perez, the aunt of two elementary school-age children she was taking care of in a park here on Friday afternoon. She said she was worried "because [it's an] outbreak, and it's not even winter yet." 

The spread of the infection among populations like those of her niece and nephew has been acute. One to two percent of children are typically infected around this time of year. This fall, however, the numbers reported in some communities are above 10 percent. 

The clinical name of the disease is mycoplasma pneumonia, but it’s commonly called walking pneumonia because sometimes people who are infected try to do their normal activities despite the infection. 

The condition can typically keep people, especially children, at home and in bed. They may have symptoms similar to many viruses, including nausea and respiratory infection symptoms like fever, sore throat, headache, runny nose, ear pain, and chest pain from coughing. 

Dr. Purvi Parikh, who specializes in conditions like walking pneumonia at the Asthma and Allergy Network, says it's important to properly respond to the condition. 

“That’s typically treated with antibiotic,” Dr. Parikh said. Involving a doctor in the process, she added, is “really important to get the right diagnosis, so you get on the right antibiotic.” 

Some communities are not only seeing much higher occurrences of the illness, but they’re also seeing children contracting it at a much younger age than usual. Usually, it occurs in 5-- to 17-year-olds. The current outbreak affects kids as young as one or two years old. 

When somebody is infected, It's vital to see a doctor immediately, Dr. Parikh said.

Melody Dykes, a retired nurse who was walking her granddaughter to a playground, pointed out that while her seven-year-old is susceptible to walking pneumonia, so is Dykes. 

“I'm 57 years old, and I've heard that adults my age can get it as well,” she said. “I'm going to take everything with a grain of salt and the benefit of the doubt and just protect myself,” she said. “You never know.”

Dr. Parikh said that important ways to protect against the infection are familiar but worth repeating: frequent and thorough hand washing; sneezing or coughing into a sleeve rather than into a hand, which can spread germs more easily; and having vaccinations up to date. That last item, she said, prevents various ailments from spreading, and even though there’s no vaccine for walking pneumonia, it and other maladies become more bearable with increased vaccinations.