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Atypical pneumonia - Symptom

Alternative Names

Walking pneumonia; Chlamydophila pneumoniae

Symptoms:

  • Chills
  • Fevers
  • Cough
  • Headache
  • Muscle stiffness and aching
  • Rapid breathing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Loss of appetite
  • Malaise
  • Confusion (especially with Legionella)
  • Rash (especially with Mycoplasma)
  • Diarrhea (especially with Legionella)

Signs and tests:

People with suspected pneumonia should undergo a medical evaluation, including a thorough physical exam and a chest x-ray -- especially since the physical exam may not always distinguish pneumonia from acute bronchitis or other respiratory infections.

Depending on the severity of illness, additional studies, such as a complete blood count, blood cultures, and sputum cultures, may be obtained.

When certain forms of atypical pneumonia are suspected, tests of your urine or a throat swab may be ordered as well.

  • Reviewed last on: 7/28/2006
  • Charlotte Grayson, MD, Private Practice specializing in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Smyrna, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

References

Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002.

Cohen J, Powderly WG. Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Elsevier, 2004.

Mandell, GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles of Infectious Diseases. 5th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.

Mandell LA, Wunderink RG, Anzueto A, et al. Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society consensus guidelines on the management of community-acquired pneumonia in adults. Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Mar 1;44 Suppl 2:S27-72.

American Thoracic Society. Guidelines for the management of adults with hospital-acquired, ventilator-associated, and healthcare-associated pneumonia. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005 Feb 15;171(4):388-416.