DES MOINES, Iowa — As the weather cools the respiratory illness season is ramping up. Across the Midwest, and right here in Iowa, walking pneumonia has taken center stage in younger children.

Walking pneumonia Is a milder form of pneumonia and is bacterial rather than viral. Walking pneumonia isn’t always treated, but sometimes can require antibiotics.

The CDC has reported a rise in cases in the two to four-year-old range across the Midwest, and cases are doubling in early school-age kids.

So, what symptoms do parents need to look out for? Dr. Wendy Woods, vice president medical director at Blank Children’s Hospital, listed what to look out for.

“A persistent fever, [kids] not really turning the corner or spending a lot of time on the couch. In that two to four-year-old group, just irritable and not eating well, not drinking well, not sick enough that they want to go to the emergency department, but just persistently coughing, a mild fever and not themselves.”

Dr. Woods said some kids have delayed symptoms. So, for households with multiple children, one child may get it, get over it, and it could take weeks for the other child to show symptoms.

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