Atypical Pneumonia: Four Questions for Your Doctor
1. Results of my diagnostic tests say atypical pneumonia. What exactly is it?
Unlike other types of pneumonia, atypical pneumonia is caused by fungi, viruses, and bacteria. The causing microbes could be legionella, mycoplasma and/or chlamydophila. However, atypical pneumonia brought about due to mycoplasma and chlamydophila bacteria usually cause mild forms of pneumonia, unlike other types of the disease that can come on more quickly with acute symptoms.
2. How long will I be on medication before I am all-clear of atypical pneumonia?
Atypical pneumonia caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae: treatment is effective with a two-week usage of medication.
Atypical pneumonia caused by chlamydophila pneumoniae: The treatment is successful with the use of two to four weeks of medication.
Atypical pneumonia caused by legionella pneumophila: Highly effective treatments have been given for patients with a two-week regimen of medication.
3. What will be the line of treatment I will be give for atypical pneumonia?
The doctor will determine the line of treatment to be followed for you depending upon your medical case history, test reports, allergy history, acuteness of condition, etc. The doctor will also determine the dosage, potency, mode of taking the drug and frequency of medication he or she will prescribe.
Broadly, the following medication will be prescribed for the different causal factors of atypical pneumonia:
Atypical pneumonia caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae:
Medication options: Macrolide, Tetracycline or Fluoroquinolones
Atypical pneumonia caused by chlamydophila pneumoniae:
Medication options: Macrolide, Fluoroquinolone or Fluoroquinolones, Azithromycin, Clarithromycin or Erythromycin are typically prescribed
Atypical pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila:
Medication options: Rifampin, Macrolides, Quinolones, Erythromycin, Azithromycin.
4. What side-effects do these drugs have that I can be expected to experience?
Side-effects for medications vary from person to person and are not felt to the same degree by each one of us. The symptoms enlisted are what can be typically expected for a person.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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