Rock Island Today

State Representative Ryan Spain shared information about the prevalence of walking pneumonia, stating, "Here's what you need to know," in an October 25 Facebook post.

"Walking pneumonia is becoming more common in Illinois children in 2024," said Spain, according to Facebook. "Here's what you should know."

In his post, Spain shared a link to a 25 News report discussing a specific strain of walking pneumonia that has become more common in children this year. The report indicates that this strain typically affects children over the age of eight, although there has been an increase in cases among children under six, who are experiencing severe symptoms.

Screenshot of State Rep. Ryan Spain's Oct. 25 Facebook post | State Representative Ryan Spain's Facebook page

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the positive case rate for walking pneumonia was 1% in April 2024. This month, it has risen to 20%, as reported by 25 News. Doctors have not identified a specific reason for the increase in cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases is also tracking the rise in this respiratory infection caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. On October 18, they reported reaching out to healthcare providers and health departments while monitoring for antibiotic resistance. The CDC states that there are approximately 2 million infections of M. pneumoniae annually, with a re-emergence noted in 2023. From March 31 through October 5, 2024, there has been an increase across all age groups, with the highest incidence among children.

Symptoms of walking pneumonia include chest cold symptoms, fatigue, fever, headache, and a worsening cough. Additional symptoms may involve fever and chills, shortness of breath, and fatigue. For young children under five years old, symptoms may differ and include diarrhea, sneezing, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, wheezing, or vomiting.

Spain has represented the people of the 73rd House District since 2017. A lifelong resident of Peoria, he holds degrees in political science and speech communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from Bradley University. His service record includes serving on the Peoria City Council from 2007 until fall 2016.