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If your kid comes home from school with what seems like a stubborn cold that just won’t quit, it might be more than sniffles — especially this week in Virginia, where walking pneumonia cases may be rising in classrooms. Parents and teachers alike are seeing a mix of lingering coughs and fatigue that feels familiar yet not quite ordinary, and understanding the subtle signs can make all the difference in catching it early.
The tricky thing about walking pneumonia is that kids often look well enough to go about their day — they’re literally “walking” around — while their lungs are quietly inflamed. Being alert to symptoms that stray from a typical cold can help you act fast and get your child the right care before things get worse. Here are eight symptoms that creep up that you should take note of.
1. Persistent Cough That Outstays Its Welcome
One of the first silent signs of walking pneumonia is a cough that sticks around long after a typical cold should have faded, especially when it’s dry and nagging. Unlike a fleeting cough that clears up in a few days, this one can linger for weeks and wear your child down slowly as school days go by. A persistent cough is often the earliest clue that their lungs are irritated beyond ordinary seasonal sniffles, and doctors say this is one of the most common reasons families finally seek care.
Keeping track of how long the cough lasts — especially if it’s worsening or interrupting sleep — helps pediatricians decide if further evaluation is needed. If your child’s cough has lasted more than a week without clear improvement, it’s worthwhile to check in with their healthcare provider.
2. Low-Grade Fever That Comes And Goes
A low-grade fever can be sneaky — mild enough that your child still seems functional but persistent enough to signal infection. In walking pneumonia, fevers often stay below 101°F yet continue for days, blending into the background of everyday sickness.
Fevers often accompany many respiratory bugs. But what makes this one worth noting is its longevity, paired with other symptoms like cough and fatigue.
3. Fatigue That Feels Out Of Proportion
When your child uses up their energy just getting through school and homework, that tired feeling might be more than ordinary exhaustion. Kids with walking pneumonia often appear unusually tired, dragging through activities they usually enjoy without much overt sickness. Fatigue in this context usually persists with other symptoms like cough or sore throat, painting a picture of an immune system working overtime.
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4. Headache And Sore Throat That Lingers
While headaches and sore throats often accompany common colds, in the case of walking pneumonia they tend to stick around alongside other respiratory symptoms.
These aches can feel minor but show that the infection is affecting more than just one part of the body. If your child complains repeatedly of discomfort that doesn’t resolve in a day or two, it might be tied to the underlying lung irritation.
5. Sneezing Or Runny Nose That Lingers Too Long
Sneezing and a runny nose can easily be dismissed as seasonal allergies or colds, especially in active kids. But with walking pneumonia, these symptoms may stick around well past the usual duration. Because this illness can mimic cold-like symptoms, it often hides in plain sight until the cough or fatigue becomes unmistakable.
If your child’s cold symptoms don’t begin to improve after a week, or if they’re accompanied by the other signs listed here, it’s important to consider a different diagnosis. Documenting symptom patterns makes conversations with healthcare professionals more productive.
6. Chest Discomfort Or Mild Pain
It might sound dramatic, but mild chest discomfort — especially when coughing — can be a real clue that the infection is deeper than it appears on the surface.
Children with walking pneumonia may complain about their chest hurting, or they might simply protect the area unconsciously by breathing shallowly. This discomfort isn’t always intense, and because it can come and go, parents can easily overlook it.
7. Loss Of Appetite Or Stomach Complaints
Gastrointestinal symptoms like loss of appetite, vomiting, or stomachache can show up with walking pneumonia, especially in younger children. These signs may feel unrelated at first. However, when paired with respiratory symptoms, they help complete the “picture” of an atypical pneumonia infection. Especially noticeable if your child normally eats well or complains more frequently at mealtimes, this symptom deserves a second look.
Keeping an eye on eating patterns alongside cough and fatigue helps parents make informed decisions about next steps. Any troubling changes in appetite should prompt a healthcare check.
8. Symptoms That Don’t Respond To Typical Cold Care
If your usual at-home cold remedies — rest, liquids, time — aren’t making a noticeable difference after several days, it could be a sign that something else is going on. Walking pneumonia often won’t respond to typical over-the-counter treatments in the same way a cold does because the underlying infection is deeper in the lungs.
If symptoms persist, intensify, or spread to include multiple areas like the neck, chest, or stomach, it’s time to reach out to a clinician for further evaluation rather than waiting it out indefinitely. Early medical guidance can make recovery smoother and help prevent the spread to others.
What Parents Should Do Now
Recognizing walking pneumonia early — especially when cases surge in schools — means families can act before symptoms become severe. Keep track of your child’s symptoms day by day. Also, don’t hesitate to call a pediatrician if more than a few signs show up together or persist. Encourage good hygiene, like frequent handwashing and respiratory etiquette, to slow the spread. And always make sure your child gets plenty of rest and fluids while recovering.
What signs have you noticed in your child this school season that made you wonder if it was more than just a common cold?
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