Walking pneumonia surges, doctors face challenge treating

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there is a surge of walking pneumonia cases nationwide.

One Gallatin mother said it seems like walking pneumonia is hitting parents and kids harder than COVID.

“I just want parents to know it’s out there,” Lekeisha Fitts said.

Fitts said her 8-year-old daughter, Mia, has had walking pneumonia for almost two weeks now.

“I gave her the Tylenol and Motrin because at first, she did not have a cough or anything,” Fitts said.

It started as a fever and turned into a cough and body aches. Then after a few days and a virtual doctor visit, Fitts said her daughter wasn’t getting any better, in fact, she was getting worse.

“I got up about 5 a.m. that morning because her fever woke me up,” Fitts said. “She was so hot and I took her to the ER.”

Mia tested negative for pneumonia, flu and COVID. It took a chest x-ray to determine Mia had walking pneumonia.

As a mother, Fitts said, it’s been hard to watch.

“I cried myself because my baby was sick and there’s really nothing I can even do to help her,” Fitts said. “I made sure she was comfortable. I gave her all the meds. I stayed on top of her fever, I gave her all the love, all the hugs and cuddles that I could possibly give her.”

For Mia, doctors are now trying a second type of antibiotic to treat her. This comes after she didn’t get better from the first treatment.

Doctor William Schaffner with Vanderbilt explained the challenge in treating walking pneumonia.

“This is a little bit of an unusual germ and so you have to match the germ with the appropriate antibiotic,” Schaffner said.

Going on day 12 with her symptoms, Fitts said she is just hoping her daughter will feel better soon.

“I’ve just been trying to keep her hydrated, in fact, last Friday her pediatrician said if she’s not better by Sunday then we’ll probably end up admitting her,” Fitts said.

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