Loyalist College nurse concerned about high number of walking pneumonia cases

By Dan Cannataro

Third-year student Will Marshall after being diagnosed with walking pneumonia late Wednesday afternoon. Photo By Dan Cannataro

Walking pneumonia is stalking the halls of Loyalist College, according to the college’s nurse, who is concerned about the rising number of cases.

Walking pneumonia is a minor lung disease and is the most common form of pneumonia.  Caused by a contact with bacteria, said Loyalist College nurse Lauren Deans. The school’s clinic has been packed all flu season and there has been several patients affected by the illness, she said.

“People are getting sicker as simple colds turn into cases such as walking pneumonia,” said Deans,. “It seems people who start having colds start feeling better, then all of a sudden they catch the virus.”

Antibiotics are used to treat the virus. Early symptoms are a bad cough. Other symptoms include sudden chills, running nose, rapid breathing as a result of fatigue and pain in the ears area

Third-year TV New Media student William Marshall recently caught the virus and has been diagnosed with the illness. He said he woke up one morning with several symptoms.

“This morning I woke up with a really high fever, tunnel vision, felt dizzy and a lot of congestion,” he said.

Pneumonia could be contagious if the infected person doesn’t take antibiotics, Deans said. Also, it can spread if a healthy person stays in contact with an infected person for a long time. It’s as contagious as a cold would be, she said.

Some students at Loyalist had their own theories how to prevent getting the virus.

“Good hygiene would be the most important thing for a solution during flu season,” said Jenn Stephens, a second-year nursing student.

Many students going into the end of the semester have a full workload a major factor in students becoming sick.

Some patients find the lack of energy also plays a huge role in the sickness. The illness can last up to a couple months or just a couple of weeks, since everyone is different.

“Its very unpleasant always felt drained of energy, last weekend I slept almost 50 hours and didn’t feel better when I woke up,” said Marshall.

With students facing the end of semester workload, having energy is key.

“Never have the energy to finish my work and have a very busy schedule, but what can you do,” said Marshall.

Deans said it the chances of getting the virus are reduced by doing simple things. It can be as easy as not touching a dirty doorknob. Bacteria are everywhere and washing your hands on a regular basis is key to preventing illness, she said.

Also for numerous students eating healthy is a problem because the lack of money. Budgeting is important to eating healthy is a big factor and diet is probably the biggest factor to prevent an illness, she said.

Students are advised not to consume alcohol while taking certain antibiotics, if alcohol is disbursed during prescribed medicine bad side effects could occur, Deans warned.