Atypical pneumonia
Atypical pneumonia, often referred to as "walking pneumonia," is a milder form of lung infection compared to typical pneumonia. It primarily affects healthy young individuals and is caused by different bacteria and viruses, including Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia, and Legionella. Unlike typical pneumonia, which commonly strikes older adults with preexisting health conditions, atypical pneumonia can occur in a broader demographic, including those under two years and over sixty-five, with an increased risk for smokers and the immunocompromised.
Symptoms of atypical pneumonia may include mild fever, cough (often dry), muscle aches, and intense fatigue, although these can also arise from other health issues. Diagnosis typically involves a medical history review, physical examination, and various tests such as chest X-rays or sputum tests to identify the causative agent. Treatment commonly involves oral antibiotics, and in more severe cases, intravenous antibiotics may be necessary. Preventive measures include practicing good hygiene and managing chronic health conditions to reduce the risk of infection. Understanding these aspects can help individuals recognize potential symptoms and seek timely medical attention.
Atypical pneumonia
- ANATOMY OR SYSTEM AFFECTED: Lungs, respiratory system
- ALSO KNOWN AS: Mycoplasma pneumonia, viral pneumonia, walking pneumonia
Definition
Atypical pneumonia is a lung infection that is sometimes called walking pneumonia. It tends to be a mild illness in comparison with typical pneumonia, which is a severe illness. Typical pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, or Klebsiella pneumoniae, and it tends to strike older persons, especially those with heart or lung conditions.
In contrast, atypical pneumonia is caused by a different assortment of bacteria or viruses, and it usually strikes healthy young people. All types of pneumonia are potentially serious conditions that require care from a doctor.
Causes
Atypical pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia, Coxiella burnetii, and Legionella, and by viruses.
Risk Factors
Several factors increase the chance of developing atypical pneumonia—being under two or over sixty-five, using tobacco products, or having a number of ailments, including asthma, emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Individuals who are immunocompromised and those who take immunosuppressant medications or corticosteroids are also at an increased risk for walking pneumonia. Additionally, living in boarding school or college dormitories, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or military barracks also increases the risk of contracting atypical pneumonia.
Symptoms
The following symptoms are not necessarily caused by pneumonia and might be caused by other, less serious health conditions: fever (mild); enlarged lymph nodes; red eyes; chills; cough, often dry; sore throat; phlegm (sputum) production; muscle aches and pains; decreased appetite; headache; chest pain; shortness of breath; fast breathing; intense fatigue; weakness; vomiting; diarrhea; and skin rash.
Screening and Diagnosis
A doctor will ask about the infected person’s symptoms and medical history and will perform a physical exam. Tests may include a chest X-ray; blood tests (testing white blood cells, which can determine if the person has a bacterial or viral infection); other blood tests, which might identify the presence of certain bacteria or viruses; blood cultures (in which bacteria or viruses may be grown from blood samples); and a sputum test. If the person is coughing up sputum, they may be asked to collect some of that sputum in a sterile container for testing; this test can reveal what type of bacterium is causing the illness.
Treatment and Therapy
If diagnosed with pneumonia, one should follow instructions from the doctor. Usually, atypical pneumonia caused by bacteria can be treated with oral antibiotics at home. However, more severe pneumonia may require intravenous antibiotics in a hospital. Some of the antibiotics used to treat atypical pneumonia include macrolide antibiotics like azithromycin and clarithromycin. Fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines are also used to treat atypical pneumonia, including ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, doxycycline, and tetracycline.
Viral pneumonia will not respond to antibiotic treatment. If the person is severely ill from pneumonia, they may need extra oxygen.
Prevention and Outcomes
To help reduce the chances of getting pneumonia, one should use good handwashing technique, should avoid contact with other ill people, and should be treated for any chronic conditions.
Bibliography
"Atypical (Walking) Pneumonia." Cleveland Clinic, 1 Nov. 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15744-pneumonia-atypical-walking-pneumonia. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
Begum, Jabeen. "What Is Walking Pneumonia?" WebMD, 19 Mar. 2024, www.webmd.com/lung/walking-pneumonia. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
Cunha, Burke A. “Atypical Pneumonias: Current Clinical Concepts Focusing on Legionnaires’ Disease.” Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine, vol. 14, no. 3, 2008, pp. 183–94, doi.org/10.1097/MCP.0b013e3282f79678. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
Domachowske, Joseph, and Manika Suryadevara. “Atypical Pneumonia.” Clinical Infectious Diseases Study Guide: A Problem-Based Approach, 2020, pp. 77–80, doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50873-9‗13. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
Goetz, M. B. “Pyogenic Bacterial Pneumonia, Lung Abscess, and Emphysema.” Murray and Nadel’s Textbook of Respiratory Medicine, edited by Robert J. Mason, et al., 7th ed., Saunders/Elsevier, 2022.
Mandell, Gerald L., et al., editors. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 8th ed., Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier, 2017.
Rosenow, E. “Walking Pneumonia: What Does It Mean?” Mayo Clinic, 8 Feb. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pneumonia/expert-answers/walking-pneumonia/faq-20058530. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
Schlossberg, D. “Mycoplasmal Infection.” Andreoli and Carpenter’s Cecil Essentials of Medicine, edited by Thomas E. Andreoli, et al., 9th ed., Saunders/Elsevier, 2016.
Thibodeau, K. P., and A. J. Viera. “Atypical Pathogens and Challenges in Community-Acquired Pneumonia.” American Family Physician, vol. 69, 2004, pp. 1699-1706.
West, John B., and Andrew Luks. West’s Pulmonary Pathophysiology: The Essentials. 10th ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2022.