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walking pneumonia
noun
: a usually mild pneumonia caused by a mycoplasma (Mycoplasma pneumoniae) and characterized by malaise, cough, and often fever
Examples of walking pneumonia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The increase in children ages 2 to 4 is particularly notable because walking pneumonia typically isn’t a leading driver of disease for this age group, according to the CDC.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 2 Dec. 2024
Children’s hospitals already strained Another respiratory disease known as walking pneumonia, caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is spreading rapidly among young children and children’s hospitals are feeling the strain.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 2 Dec. 2024
Infections are generally mild, and people may seem better than expected for those with a lung infection, hence the term walking pneumonia, the CDC said.
—Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2024
More news to know now Could your illness be walking pneumonia?
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
But the numbers have been even more eye-popping for walking pneumonia, which is caused by the bacteria mycoplasma pneumoniae.
—Paul Sisson, The Mercury News, 18 Nov. 2024
There are less severe forms of pneumonia—like walking pneumonia—that come with milder symptoms and don't always need to be treated with antibiotics.
—Kristina Herndon, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024
The nickname walking pneumonia comes from people generally having lighter sympotms.
—Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2024
Rady Children’s Hospital reported a massive rise in walking pneumonia admissions, with 92 kids ending up in hospital beds so far this year compared to just 13 in all of 2023 and eight in 2022.
—Paul Sisson, The Mercury News, 18 Nov. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1888, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of walking pneumonia was
in 1888
Dictionary Entries Near walking pneumonia
Cite this Entry
“Walking pneumonia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/walking%20pneumonia. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Medical Definition
walking pneumonia
noun
: a usually mild pneumonia caused by a bacterium of the genus Mycoplasma (M. pneumoniae) and characterized by malaise, cough, and often fever
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