Atypical Pneumonia: Four More Questions for Your Doctor
1. My test results say mycoplasma pneumoniae as the microbe causing my atypical pneumonia. What is this?
Mycoplasma pneumoniae typically presents with less severe symptoms of the disease. As the condition progresses, anemia, encephalitis, meningitis and myleitis may occur, especially in children. In some cases, the infection may begin with flu-like presentation such as chills, fever, malaise and headache, etc. However, as the disease continues into the advanced stages, it exhibits pulmonary and extrapulmonary presentations such as those of the central nervous system (CNS), hematologic, cardiac and various gastro-intestinal manifestations.
a. At the CNS level, it presents conditions of peripheral neuropathy, cranial nerve palsy, aseptic meningitis and myleitis.
b. Cardiac manifestations would include congestive heart failure, heart blocks, myocarditis, pericarditis, etc.
c. Gastrointestinal adverse symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, and pancreatitis may occur.
d. Hematologic manifestations include the presence of IgM antibodies eventually leading to hemolysis.
2. What is the prognosis for atypical pneumonia patients?
It is important that the antibiotic therapy be given for a minimum period of two weeks so there is less chance of relapse. A two weeks and over treatment with the prescribed antibiotic is generally sufficient for full recovery. Only atypical pneumonia caused by legionella carries a high death rate.
3. My test results say chlamydophila pneumoniae as the pathogen causing my atypical pneumonia. What is this?
This pathogen causes milder symptoms and lower death rate though relapse is common. There are three classes of chlamydia that infect humans of which chlamydophila trachomatis usually infect newborns and in some cases adults as well.
a. In its respiratory manifestation chlamydophila pneumoniae exhibits upper respiratory tract conditions such as bronchiolitis, prolonged and non-productive cough and reactive airway disease.
b. In its pulmonary form, the disease manifest itself as hypoxia.
c. It also presents as sinusitis, headache and bronchitis symptoms.
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