Atypical pneumonia

• Legionella pneumophila: Causes a severe form of pneumonia with a relatively high mortality rate, known as legionellosis or Legionnaires’ disease..
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae: Usually occurs in younger age groups and may be associated with neurological and systemic (e.g. rashes) symptoms.
• Chlamydophila pneumoniae: Mild form of pneumonia with relatively mild symptoms.
• The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was also considered a kind of atypical pneumonia and is still called so in the Chinese mainland.

• Symptoms include pyrexia, shortness of breath, laboured breathing, cough, arthralgia (joint pain), malaise, loss of appetite, confusion, rash, and diarrhea.

Consider causes of prolonged acute bronchitis:

• Mycoplasma pneumonia
• Chlamydia pneumoniae
• Bordetella pertussis

• Treatment is with oral antibiotics, mainly with those which interfere with protein synthesis e.g. erythromycin, and diagnosis is confirmed by blood cultures and sputum samples.

Azithromycin can treat:

• Mycoplasma pneumonia
• Chlamydia pneumoniae
• Bordetella pertussis

• Prognosis is usually good and is influenced by age and immunosuppression.

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