Psittacosis

Alternative names:

chlamydia psittaci; chlamydial pneumonia; ornithosis

Symptoms:

• fever and chills
• muscle aches
• headache
• fatigue
• dry cough
• shortness of breath
• rales may be present
• blood-tinged sputum

Signs and tests:

Abnormal lung sounds such as rales are heard when listening to the chest with a stethoscope.

Tests include:

• X-ray of the chest (interstitial infiltrates)
• blood gasses (decreased oxygen saturation)
• blood culture (grows Chlamydia)
• pre and post antibody titer (marked elevation from initial)