By Karen Kier, Pharmacist
On behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

On April 2, 1956, Johnny Cash recorded his first number 1 country hit I Walk the Line at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.  The song crossed genres and ranked number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. In an interview, Johnny indicated he wrote the song about resisting temptation and being accountable in relationships. 

Johnny Cash was known as “The Man in Black.”  He was a United States Air Force veteran and served from 1950 to 1954. He spent significant time in West Germany as a Morse code operator.  Johnny Cash had many life struggles after returning home before hitting the charts with Sun Records.

He was part of the Million Dollar Quartet including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.  They were called this after an impromptu jam session at Sun Records on December 4, 1956, which was recorded. This recording was released in 1990 and now serves as the basis for a musical theater production by the same name.

Speaking of struggles.

Recent statistics in Ohio indicate many are struggling with walking pneumonia. Several Ohio hospitals have seen an increase in admissions and the CDC has documented a six-month increase in cases especially in young children across the country. Walking pneumonia can happen at any age, but children and young adults are often more susceptible.

What is walking pneumonia?

Walking pneumonia is a term used to describe a bacterial infection of the lungs caused by the microorganism Mycoplasma pneumoniae.  It causes an upper lung infection, which can include the throat and windpipe. It often results in a milder case of pneumonia and can usually be treated in the outpatient setting with oral antibiotics.   If left untreated, it can cause damage to the lungs.  More serious infections will require hospitalization. 

It is easy to be fooled by walking pneumonia since the symptoms often mimic a viral infection including a cold or COVID-19.  Symptoms can include a low-grade fever, sore throat, headache, sneezing and chest discomfort.  

However, the most persistent and irritating symptom is a cough that can last for weeks to months. The cough is described as a barking cough, which resembles the sound of a seal.  The effects of the infection on the windpipes results in hoarseness. Even with effective antibiotic treatment, the cough and hoarseness may persist for 2 to 3 weeks after the infection resolves. 

Walking pneumonia is spread by respiratory droplets expelled from the lungs with coughing and sneezing.  There is no vaccine to prevent this disease and the Mycoplasma pneumoniae is known as atypical bacteria.  Milder cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia can sometimes resolve without any treatment, but for more severe cases, antibiotics are prescribed. Our usual antibiotics used for other types of pneumonia do not work as well to cure this pneumonia.   

First-line antibiotics with activity against Mycoplasma include the class known as macrolides.  The two most commonly prescribed macrolides include azithromycin (Zithromax) and clarithromycin (Biaxin).  Alternatives to the macrolides include the tetracycline class and the fluoroquinolones.  The common choices for prescribers in these classes include doxycycline and levofloxacin (Levaquin).  

As the case numbers increase in Ohio and our area, it is important to practice good hand hygiene including washing hands thoroughly with soap and water as well as using hand sanitizers.  Making sure to cover the mouth when coughing or sneezing.  This is a good idea to reinforce with small children. Reminders to cough or sneeze into a tissue or into your sleeve (elbow) instead of your hand are important as well.  

Walk the line to avoid walking pneumonia or walk to your healthcare provider for more information or treatment if you have symptoms. Per Johnny Cash, be accountable!

ONU Healthwise is offering the and COVID-19 vaccine clinics Monday - Friday from 2:00-6:00 p.m. For more information, call 419-772-3784.