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Cases of walking pneumonia are on the rise among young children according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This form of pediatric pneumonia is atypical. “Usually, babies and toddlers have viral respiratory pneumonia or bronchiolitis such as RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, infections,” said Zachary Hoy, M.D., a board-certified pediatric infectious disease specialist at Pediatrix® Hospitalist of Nashville. Cases are usually mild and often don’t require medical care, though antibiotics are sometimes needed. “In the US, most strains are sensitive to macrolide antibiotics such as azithromycin commonly given as a five-day course,” said Dr. Hoy. “There is some resistance, especially in other countries,” he added. “Usually, resistance would present as someone who is on day three to four of the antibiotic and symptoms are not improving or worsening...If there is concern about resistance, there should be a respiratory swab sent for testing to confirm mycoplasma diagnosis and evaluate for co-infections such as flu or RSV.”
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