Atypical pneumonia
Walking pneumonia; Community-acquired pneumonia - atypicalPneumonia is inflamed or swollen lung tissue due to infection with a germ.
With atypical pneumonia, the infection is caused by different bacteria than the more common ones that cause pneumonia. Atypical pneumonia also tends to have milder symptoms than typical pneumonia.
Causes
Bacteria that cause atypical pneumonia include:
- Pneumonia caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae often affects people younger than age 40.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is inflamed or swollen lung tissue due to infection with a germ. Mycoplasma pneumonia is caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M pn...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Pneumonia due to Chlamydophila pneumoniae bacteria occurs year round.
- Pneumonia due to Legionella pneumophila bacteria is seen more often in middle-aged and older adults, smokers, and those with chronic illnesses or a weak immune system. It can be more severe. This type of pneumonia is also called Legionnaire disease.
Legionnaire disease
Legionnaires disease is an infection of the lungs and airways. It is caused by Legionella bacteria.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article
Symptoms
Pneumonia due to mycoplasma and chlamydophila bacteria is usually mild. Pneumonia due to legionella gets worse during the first 4 to 6 days, and then improves over 4 to 5 days.
The most common symptoms of pneumonia are:
- Chills
- Cough (with legionella pneumonia, you may cough up bloody mucus)
- Fever, which may be mild or high
- Shortness of breath (may only occur when you exert yourself)
Other symptoms include:
- Chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough
- Confusion, most often in older people or those with legionella pneumonia
- Headache
- Loss of appetite, low energy, and fatigue
- Muscle aches and joint stiffness
- Sweating and clammy skin
Less common symptoms include:
- Diarrhea (often with legionella pneumonia)
- Ear pain (with mycoplasma pneumonia)
- Eye pain or soreness (with mycoplasma pneumonia)
- Neck lump (with mycoplasma pneumonia)
- Rash (with mycoplasma pneumonia)
- Sore throat (with mycoplasma pneumonia)
Exams and Tests
People with suspected pneumonia should have a complete medical evaluation. It may be hard for your health care provider to tell whether you have pneumonia, bronchitis, or another respiratory infection, so you may need a chest x-ray. The evaluation is similar for people who have more typical pneumonia.
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is swelling and inflamed tissue in the bronchi, the main passages that carry air to the lungs. This swelling narrows the airways, w...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleChest x-ray
A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleDepending on how severe the symptoms are, other tests may be done, including:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
Complete blood count
A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Blood tests to identify the specific bacteria
- Bronchoscopy (rarely needed)
Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is a test to view the airways and diagnose lung disease. It may also be used during the treatment of some lung conditions.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - CT scan of the chest
CT scan of the chest
A chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Measuring levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood (arterial blood gases)
Arterial blood gases
Blood gases are a measurement of how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood. They also determine the acidity (pH) of your blood.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Nose or throat swab to check for bacteria and viruses
- Blood cultures
- Open lung biopsy (only done in very serious illnesses when the diagnosis cannot be made from other sources)
Open lung biopsy
An open lung biopsy is surgery to remove a small piece of tissue from the lung. The sample is then examined for cancer, infection, or lung disease....
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Sputum culture to identify the specific bacteria
Sputum culture
Routine sputum culture is a laboratory test that looks for germs that cause infection. Sputum is the material that comes up from air passages when y...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Urine test to check for legionella bacteria
Treatment
To feel better, you can take these self-care measures at home:
- Control your fever with aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen), or acetaminophen. DO NOT give aspirin to children because it may cause a dangerous illness called Reye syndrome.
Reye syndrome
Reye syndrome is characterized by sudden (acute) brain damage and liver function problems. This condition does not have a known cause. This syndrome...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - DO NOT take cough medicines without first talking to your provider. Cough medicines may make it harder for your body to cough up the extra sputum.
- Drink plenty of fluids to help loosen secretions and bring up phlegm.
- Get a lot of rest. Have someone else do household chores.
If needed, you will be prescribed antibiotics.
- You may be able to take antibiotics by mouth at home.
- If your condition is severe, you will likely be admitted to a hospital. There, you will be given antibiotics through a vein (intravenously), as well as oxygen.
- Antibiotics might be used for 2 weeks or more, although fewer days are usually enough.
- Finish all the antibiotics you've been prescribed, even if you feel better. If you stop the medicine too soon, the pneumonia can return and may be harder to treat.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Most people with pneumonia due to mycoplasma or chlamydophila get better with the right antibiotics. Legionella pneumonia can be severe. It can lead to problems, most often in those with kidney failure, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or a weakened immune system. It can also lead to death.
Possible Complications
Complications that may result include any of the following:
- Brain and nervous system infections, such as meningitis, myelitis, and encephalitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleEncephalitis
Encephalitis is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the brain, most often due to infections.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Hemolytic anemia, a condition in which there are not enough red blood cells in the blood because the body is destroying them
Hemolytic anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Normally, red ...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Severe lung damage
- Respiratory failure requiring breathing machine support (ventilator)
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if you develop fever, cough, or shortness of breath. There are many causes for these symptoms. The provider will need to rule out pneumonia.
Also, call if you have been diagnosed with this type of pneumonia and your symptoms become worse after improving first.
Prevention
Wash your hands often and have other people around you do the same.
Avoid contact with sick people whenever possible.
If your immune system is weak, stay away from crowds. Ask visitors who have a cold to wear a mask.
DO NOT smoke. If you do, get help to quit.
Get appropriate vaccines like flu and COVID-19 shot as prescribed. Ask your provider if you need a pneumonia vaccine.
Pneumonia vaccine
All content below is taken in its entirety from the CDC Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): www. cdc. gov/vaccines/hcp/v...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleReferences
Baum SG, Goldman DL. Mycoplasma infections. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 301.
Holzman RS, Simberkoff MS, Leaf HL. Mycoplasma pneumoniae and atypical pneumonia. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 183.
Waxman MA, Moran GJ. Pneumonia. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 62.
Pneumonia
Animation
Lungs - illustration
The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles and the alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.
Lungs
illustration
Respiratory system - illustration
Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.
Respiratory system
illustration
Lungs - illustration
The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles and the alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.
Lungs
illustration
Respiratory system - illustration
Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.
Respiratory system
illustration
Review Date: 7/31/2022
Reviewed By: Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, MHS, Paul F. Harron Jr. Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.