Would You Send Your Kid to School with Walking Pneumonia?

Walking pneumonia is different. My husband used to get it all the time and went to work with it. The cough seemed to last forever. Do what you feel is best. Keep her home an extra day if that makes you feel more comfortable. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about her going to school especially if she isn't feeling bad. My daughter had pneumonia twice and was really, really sick. Walking pneumonia is different, I think.

NO-don't send her to school! I've had walking pneumonia and you feel HORRIBLE -even without fever. I would give her until Monday to rest and down tons of fluids and get the antibiotic in her system.

No.
I would keep my child home.
Pneumonia, is very serious.
I have had that myself.
AND... if it is contagious, the child should stay home. Why... would you put the other kids at risk of getting it????

There is bacterial Pneumonia and there is viral Pneumonia.

My Mom almost ended up in the hospital, when she had had walking Pneumonia.

You, already have 2 kids... that have Pneumonia.

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My daughter had it in middle school. I would have her stay home at least 24 hours on the antibiotic and then see how she feels. My daughter went to school after a day or 2 of rest, but then got bored and wanted to go to school. We did have a note from the doctor to excuse her from gym for 2 weeks, and alerted the classroom teacher and the school nurse that if she felt weak she could go to the nurse, but she never did (just no gym). After 24 hours on antibiotics she should no longer be contagious. Just tell her to take it easy and alert the school personnel so they can keep a closer eye on her.

If she were my kid, she would be staying at home in bed. I agree with you, walking pneumonia is nothing to mess around with. Sure, she may not be contagious to others (which is the doctor's reason for giving her the okay to go to school, I'm sure), but I'd be worried that she wouldn't be able to rest and heal well enough if she's running around the playground or breathing in other kids' germs.

I'd keep her home over the weekend, at minimum.

No, I would not send her to school

okay, here's the deal: walking pneumonia sucks. You're tired, you feel drained, & you fatigue easily. +....her immune system is down, & she is at risk. Why chance it?

As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter if she wants to go or not...a little bit of rest will do her a world of good.

You're in Michigan....BRRR! I'd keep her home tomorrow and let her rest up all weekend. See how she's doing Monday.

Pneumonia sounds serious and it can have serious complications, but nowadays most cases are pretty routine and go away with a simple course of ABX. Keep her home if she has a fever or feels crummy. Otherwise if she feels fine and wants to go... I don't see a problem.

Times have changed. Our pediatrician thought my mom was lying when Sis was found to have it and Mom said she'd only been sick a few days (Sis has a 0-sick system). I would keep her home. If the other kid needed to be checked out, why subject the school to it?

Maybe let her go for the activities then pick her up after? At that age they are so disappointed when they miss out on fun stuff... :-( this might be a good compromise.

Good luck - pneumonia is so scary - my 2 year old had it last year and the same thing - no clue other than a funky cough.

The doctor should know! But if your child isn't up to it...let her stay home.

Walking pneumonia can be caused by different things, but often, it is by the Mycoplasma bacteria.

My daughter got it one summer, in July, shortly after we moved to Texas. A few weeks later, I ended up with it, just about the time school started. My daughter weathered it really well, but it really knocked me down.. it didn't help that we had 4 little ones, including an 8 month old.

I finished the medicine on a Sunday, but was still coughing (as I knew I would). I had a return doctor visit on Friday, but by Wednesday, I was coughing so bad I went back to the doctor..... I ended up with a really bad case of pneumonia that seriously, almost landed me in the hospital... I went to the doctor every week for a month just so he could make sure I was getting better. Truthfully, I think it was at least 2 months before I really had my strength back.

Why did it hit me so hard? I think I ended up with what the doctor called "Bacterial Rebound" ... the antibiotic also killed off the good bacteria that kept the bad stuff in check, and that blossomed.... I had been under a lot of stress that year.. (new baby in November, my father passed away in December, hubby getting transferred, two trips for house-hunting, and the move itself, all in about 9 months...)

Anyway, I don't really know what to suggest... most kids do rebound off things like that pretty quickly.

What is it she is going to miss? Could you take her just for that, and then pull her out of school?

I would try to make sure she is getting plenty of rest for a while....

I go to work with it, cook, clean, take kids all over town to activities, etc...when I'd really like to have a mom to tell me I got to go to bed and sleep for a couple of day...PLEASE!!!!

I get walking pneumonia almost every Fall. It isn't really that bad and being up and active is really a good thing because it helps the goo to stay moving and not turning into full pneumonia.

I'd let her go if she felt like it but I would let the teacher know that if they think she is doing poorly they should call so I could make sure she was doing okay still.

My walking pneumonia has never been contagious either. I was given a letter to return to work in child care the one year I had it there. I have never had anyone in the household or through work get it either.

Added: after reading some other answers, perhaps keeping her home until next Monday would be wise, too. As for next week--

I'd let her level of energy be your guide. As much as I want to keep my son home from preschool when he's got a cold, I have learned that if he's got some good energy in the morning, he's likely going to be giving me a run for my money.

If she's happy and peppy in the a.m., you can always send your daughter and talk to the teacher; let the teacher know that if they see your daughter start to 'fade' a bit , that they can call you to pick her up.( I'd give the teacher your phone number(s), just to make sure she doesn't have to go searching for that info.) Be sure to let the teacher know that the doc says okay, but that she has to sit out PE with a book or something else they feel is appropriate.

My younger brother had it once, and he was soo so sick. It was awful, he could barely move off of the couch for days. The docs said that he was fine too but then he got much worse and they had to prescribe him more drugs because it got worse.

If it were my kid, I would have them stay home too. With the weather getting colder why risk anything? Walking Pneumonia is nothing to take lightly.

I'd keep my son home.

My middle schooler had double pneumonia 2 winters ago. He stayed home from school the entire week and then was excused from PE for the following week after that. He took his meds via injection in his rear (1 a day for 3 days)... and his rear was sore and he wouldn't have been good sitting in a desk. He wasn't even comfortable lying down in the bed the night after the 3rd one, lol. BUT, after the 3rd shot, he was told he could return to school on Thursday if he felt up to it. He really didn't. On Friday he did, but I kept him home anyway. He'd already missed the whole week until then. It worked out better for us to keep him home and let him slowly work on his missed work (I picked up his assignments from school) over Friday and the remainder of the weekend, and start fresh on Monday. And he could rest when he wanted.
Walking pneumonia is probably different, but even with double pneumonia, my son was cleared to return to school by day 4.
I vote keep her home at LEAST tomorrow.. let her recouperate at home, lots of fluids, and keep her away from anyone else who is carrying something contagious around while her immune system is so compromised.

I would keep her home tomorrow and then call the school to speak to the school nurse. School nurses are more familiar with the demands of the classroom and whether your child would have the energy to attend. Personally, I would think a few days of rest now would be a good idea. Antibiotics need a rested body to work their best.

My concern is the lack of healing and resting going on. My son's problem when he gets sick is that he does not understand the concept of rest, thanks Adhd, so it lasts for much longer! I would keep her home personally so she may recover. Tell her that she will miss out on some things but she also will not enjoy them the same way since she is sick. Make it worth while to stay home as well, if you can move a TV and DVD player to her room and a small "snack station" filled with get better snacks! My son LOVES this when we do it, he gets to watch movies all day long, have more juices (mostly all fruit or veggie like the Nakked brand) and snack type foods (nutrigrain bars, home made bran muffin tops - he thinks they are cookies! - hot dog biscuits etc.) I would make this a more fun time than being at school if possible.

No I would not. And I did not. There are just some public places that are breeding grounds for catching stuff. Schools, planes, air termimals, hospitals...Why put even a mildly compromised child or adult in that environment.
Follow your gut instinct. Doctors aren't without faults. They call it wrong now and then, and that's a generous statement coming from me! I stay away from them.
Let your child recuperate and get his strength back. And get an immune booster for the whole family. Good luck

I personally wouldn't until at the very least, the 2 week course (that's usually what it is for or 3 days if a Z-pac) antibiotics has been administered and hopefully knocks down that cough. Not to mention, she's going to be very susceptible to every germ floating around the school as her immune system is probably pretty depleted.

I've had walking pneumonia. Believe me, even with antibiotics early in the game, it wasn't until I finally took 2 weeks off from work and stayed in bed that it finally started to go away. By the way, I had it for 6 months!

No, she can't miss that much school, but she should get a good solid block of time to just rest and give her immune system a chance to reboot. Walking pneumonia can turn into something much worse on the turn of a dime. I don't get where your doctor is coming from. This IS serious stuff. It is a bacterial illness...not a virus. I wonder about the other kids she comes in contact with too...especially those with special health concerns or conditions.

But once again, that's JMO/

I would not send my daughter to school. Your kids need to rest so their bodies so they can fight off being sick. The fact that you doctor said it was OK to send her really ticks me off.
IMO I would be looking for a new doctor. Your daughter’s immune system can be attacked by another cold or virus and since she is already sick it could make it much worse.
I had walking pneumonia once and my doctor told me if I didn't take time off of work to rest I would end up in the hospital.

If she has no fever, she is not contagious. As long as she is getting enough sleep at night and is feeling good, why keep her home? Walking pneumonia is only a name. It's essentially a virus like any other cold.

A child in my daughter's class was just out of school for two solid weeks with pneumonia. His was bad enough that he was in the hospital for part of that time. I know "walking pneumonia" is considered like a mere cold by some but I would keep her at home; her immune system is compromised and weaker just now and if another kid has a virus, she is likelier to pick it up and it's likelier to be worse for her. Sending her to school could actually end up prolonging the time she is ill overall.

You mention that she's upset about missing things at school, but please don't let that (or her tears or arguments about it) sway you. You're the boss here, not her, and her disappointment really doesn't matter in the big picture. Be sure to distract her with some fun new videos or a new book or whatever will distract and occupy her. Even "play school" if you want. But no, don't send her.

it is not possible to diagnose pneumonia without a chest x-ray. if they did not do that - she does not have pneumonia. just bad bronchial thing - real pneumonia is serious.

there is no such thing as "walking pneumonia or double pneumonia" if your doctor tells you there is - you need a new doctor.

If you like & trust the pediatrician, I would go with their recommendation, especially if your child is comfortable with daily, non-stressful activity (i.e, is not acting really lethargic/crabby, etc.). If the child is acting sick & miserable, or is contagious, then she should stay home.