Atypical pneumonia: Difference between revisions
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* [[Legionella pneumophila]]: Causes a severe form of pneumonia with a relatively high mortality rate, known as [[legionellosis]] or Legionnaires' disease.. | * [[Legionella pneumophila]]: Causes a severe form of pneumonia with a relatively high mortality rate, known as [[legionellosis]] or Legionnaires' disease.. | ||
* [[Mycoplasma pneumoniae]]: Usually occurs in younger age groups and may be associated with neurological and systemic (e.g. rashes) symptoms. | * [[Mycoplasma pneumoniae]]: Usually occurs in younger age groups and may be associated with neurological and systemic (e.g. rashes) symptoms. | ||
* [[Chlamydophila pneumoniae]]: Mild form of pneumonia with relatively mild symptoms. | * [[Chlamydophila pneumoniae]]: Mild form of pneumonia with relatively mild symptoms. | ||
* The [[severe acute respiratory syndrome]] (SARS) was also considered a kind of atypical pneumonia, and is still called so in the Chinese mainland. | |||
* Symptoms include [[pyrexia]], shortness of breath, laboured breathing, [[cough]], [[arthralgia]] (joint pain), malaise, [[anorexia (symptom)|loss of appetite]], confusion, rash, and [[diarrhea]]. | |||
* Treatment is with oral [[antibiotics]], mainly with those which interfere with protein synthesis e.g. [[erythromycin]], and diagnosis is confirmed by [[blood]] cultures and [[sputum]] samples. | |||
* Prognosis is usually good and is influenced by [[Senescence|age]] and [[immunosuppression]]. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 13:55, 23 February 2013
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Atypical pneumonia is a term used to describe a disease caused by one or a combination of the following organisms:
- Legionella pneumophila: Causes a severe form of pneumonia with a relatively high mortality rate, known as legionellosis or Legionnaires' disease..
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae: Usually occurs in younger age groups and may be associated with neurological and systemic (e.g. rashes) symptoms.
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae: Mild form of pneumonia with relatively mild symptoms.
- The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was also considered a kind of atypical pneumonia, and is still called so in the Chinese mainland.
- Symptoms include pyrexia, shortness of breath, laboured breathing, cough, arthralgia (joint pain), malaise, loss of appetite, confusion, rash, and diarrhea.
- Treatment is with oral antibiotics, mainly with those which interfere with protein synthesis e.g. erythromycin, and diagnosis is confirmed by blood cultures and sputum samples.
- Prognosis is usually good and is influenced by age and immunosuppression.