Walking pneumonia: All you need to know about the infection that caused Elton John to cut his show short
British singer and composer Elton John recently had to cut short his performance after he was diagnosed with walking pneumonia while on tour in Auckland, New Zealand.
We had reported that he was performing at a sold-out show at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, which was part of his global farewell tour when the bout struck.
He abruptly left the stage but returned for two more songs a few minutes later before explaining to the crowd, "I've just completely lost my voice. I can't sing. I've got to go. I'm sorry."
John also tweeted on Sunday, "I want to thank everyone who attended the #EltonFarewellTour gig in Auckland tonight. I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia earlier today, but I was determined to give you the best show humanly possible."
"I played and sang my heart out until my voice could sing no more. I’m disappointed, deeply upset and sorry. I gave it all I had. Thank you so much for your extraordinary support and all the love you showed me during tonight’s performance. I am eternally grateful," he tweeted.
What is walking pneumonia?
This is a non-medical term and refers to a mild form of pneumonia, which does not usually require bed rest or treatment in a hospital. Hence, it is often referred to as walking pneumonia. In fact, a person may feel well enough that they do not even realize they have the infection.
It is mostly caused by an atypical bacteria called Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which can live and grow in the nose, throat, windpipe (trachea) and lungs (respiratory tract).
"Bed rest or hospitalization is usually not needed, and symptoms can be mild enough that you can continue about your daily activities, hence the term 'walking'. But don't be fooled. Walking pneumonia can still make you miserable, with cough, fever, chest pain, mild chills, headache, etc. It feels more akin to a bad cold, and despite what the term 'walking' implies, taking care of yourself is the best path to recovery," says the American Lung Association.
If a person has walking pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, they can be considered contagious from two to up to four weeks before symptoms appear. It is treatable with antibiotics if the doctor believes bacteria to be the cause, says Dr Albert Rizzo, senior medical advisor to the American Lung Association.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a type of "atypical" bacteria that commonly cause mild infections of the respiratory system.
"In fact, pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae is sometimes referred to as walking pneumonia since symptoms tend to be milder than pneumonia caused by other germs," says the CDC.
M. pneumoniae is spread when a person who is sick coughs or sneezes while in close contact with others who then breathe in the bacteria. Most people who are exposed for a short amount of time do not get sick. And just like typical pneumonia, walking pneumonia spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
"The most common type of illness caused by these bacteria, especially in children, is tracheobronchitis, commonly called a chest cold. Symptoms of a chest cold include sore throat, being tired (fatigue), fever, headache, and slowly worsening cough that can last for weeks or months. Sometimes M. pneumoniae can cause pneumonia, a more serious lung infection, which may require care in a hospital," says the CDC.