What Is White Lung Pneumonia, and Should You Be Worried This Sick Season? A Lung Doctor Weighs In

As cold and flu season rolls around, respiratory illnesses are often top of mind for many of us. Recently, terms like “white lung syndrome” and “white lung pneumonia” have made headlines, raising concerns for those at an increased risk of respiratory viruses. But what is white lung pneumonia and how worried should you be about a pneumonia outbreak this sick season? To find out, we connected with a board-certified pulmonologist.

What is white lung pneumonia?

While the term white lung pneumonia may sound scary, it’s technically not a medical condition. Rather, it’s “a term doctors use when pneumonia shows up as white areas on a chest X-ray because of fluid and swelling in the lungs,” explains Raj Dasgupta, MD , a board-certified pulmonologist and Chief Medical Advisor for Fortune Recommends Health.

Dr. Dasgupta says white lung pneumonia is no different than other types of pneumonia and presents the same symptoms, including coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

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Common causes of white lung pneumonia or white lung syndrome

Pneumonia is a respiratory infection that irritates and inflames the alveoli (small air sacs in the lungs). It “can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi,” says Dr. Dasgupta. “Bacterial pneumonia is common in adults, while viruses like the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) often cause it in kids and older adults. Sometimes, people with weak immune systems get pneumonia from fungi.”

That weakened immunity Dr. Dasgupta refers to is one of the most common causes of white lung syndrome in adults 50 and older. However, other medical conditions can also increase your risk for the condition.

For instance, respiratory illnesses like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) make the lungs more susceptible to infection. So, too, can smoking. A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that smokers were two to four times more likely to develop pneumonia.

How white lung pneumonia is diagnosed

If you develop symptoms of white lung pneumonia such as difficulty breathing, chest pain when breathing, a severe cough that produces phlegm or a persistent fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit, visit your doctor or an urgent care facility.

White lung pneumonia diagnosis is quick and straightforward. Dr. Dasgupta says your provider will ask about your symptoms, listen to your lungs with a stethoscope and take chest X-rays to check for signs of infection.

“They might also order lab tests like a mucosal swab or blood work,” to figure out if it’s a bacterial infection, viral or fungal.

How to treat white lung pneumonia

“Treatment for pneumonia depends on the cause,” Dr. Dasgupta explains. “If it’s bacterial, your doctor prescribes antibiotics. For viral pneumonia, sometimes antiviral drugs are given. If breathing is really difficult, your doctor might prescribe steroids to reduce swelling in your lungs.”

At-home measures can also help manage symptoms. A few to try:

Run a humidifier

Dr. Dasgupta says running a humidifie r can make breathing easier, especially if you have lots of phlegm. Since humidifiers increase moisture in the air, they reduce congestion and help loosen up mucus so you expel more of it when you cough and blow your nose.

Drink plenty of fluids

Staying properly hydrated with water, decaffeinated tea and juice has similarly beneficial effects. Drinking fluids loosens up phlegm and prevents dehydration. It can also bolster your immune system.

A meta-analysis in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN found that proper hydration supported immune function in adults with pneumonia. It also reduced the risk of severe outcomes.

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Ask your doctor about OTC meds

If you have pneumonia, taking an over-the-counter cough medicine might seem like a no-brainer. But it’s important to get your doctor’s approval first. According to the American Lung Association , coughing is your body’s way of expelling the infection. Suppressing a cough too much can interfere with that process and increase illness duration. Your healthcare provider can recommend an OTC drug that meets your needs.

The bottom line on white lung pneumonia

“White lung pneumonia got a lot of attention last year because there was an increase in cases. Many of these cases were tied to viruses like RSV, which can make breathing problems worse,” Dr. Dasgupta notes. “Because it affected so many people, it became a big topic in the news.”

Although headlines can be alarming, you don’t need to panic about white lung pneumonia. Everyday precautions like washing your hands, wearing an N-95 mask in crowded places and getting good sleep can reduce your risk of pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses.

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