Atypical pneumonia

Alternative names:

Chlamydial pneumonia (C. psittacosis); Chlamydial pneumonia (C. trachomatis); pneumonia - atypical

Symptoms:

• chills
• cough
• headache
• muscular stiffness and aching
• breathing, rapid may be present
• shortness of breath may be present
• rales may be present

Signs and tests:

Examination of the chest with a stethoscope (auscultation) may show signs of lung consolidation (a common process in pneumonia where the lungs become firm and less elastic).

These tests also confirm the diagnosis:

• a sputum culture
• a chest X-ray
• a CBC with a low or normal white blood cell count

This disease may also alter the results of the following test:

• febrile/cold agglutinins