Atypical pneumonia
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Atypical pneumonia On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Atypical pneumonia |
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.
- 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.
- The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was also considered a kind of atypical pneumonia, and is still called so in the Chinese mainland.