From the Research
Children with walking pneumonia (atypical pneumonia) should typically stay home from school until they have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours and are fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications. This recommendation is based on the most recent and highest quality study available, which suggests that the optimal duration of antibiotic treatment for community-acquired pneumonia can be safely implemented based on clinical stability criteria 1.
Key Considerations
- Most cases of walking pneumonia are caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae and are treated with antibiotics such as azithromycin, clarithromycin, or doxycycline.
- Even after returning to school, children should continue taking their full course of prescribed antibiotics.
- Good hygiene practices like handwashing and covering coughs are important to prevent spreading the infection.
- Walking pneumonia is less severe than other types of pneumonia, but it's still contagious through respiratory droplets.
- Children may continue to experience mild symptoms like cough for several weeks after treatment begins, but they are generally no longer contagious after being on antibiotics for 24 hours.
Treatment Options
- Azithromycin: typically 500mg on day 1, then 250mg daily for 4 more days
- Clarithromycin: 500mg twice daily for 7-14 days
- Doxycycline: 100mg twice daily for 7-14 days It's essential to note that the specific treatment and duration may vary depending on the individual case and the prescribing physician's discretion, as supported by studies such as 2, 3, 4, and 5. However, the primary consideration should always be the patient's clinical stability and response to treatment.