10 Atypical Pneumonia Symptoms

By lynda

Reviewed: dr. stavarache

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. 'Atypical Pneumonia.' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Apr. 2021, www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/atypical/index.html
• 2. 'Atypical Bacterial Pneumonia - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.' National Center for Biotechnology Information, 15 Aug. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532239/
• 3. Smith, Charlotte. '6-At-Home Remedies to Ease Your Sore Throat' Nov. 10, 2020. https://www.pennmedicine.org'updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2018/february/sore-throat
• 4. 'Severe Atypical Pneumonia in Critically Ill Patients: a Retrospective Multicenter Study.' Annals of Intensive Care, 13 Aug. 2018, annalsofintensivecare.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13613-018-0429-z
• 5. 'Pneumonia.' Advancing Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Research & Innovation | NHLBI, NIH, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/pneumonia
• 6. 'Atypical Pneumonia: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.' MedlinePlus - Health Information from the National Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000079.htm

Medical Expert

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Atypical pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It's also known as walking pneumonia and is usually a mild form of pneumonia. This means people who have it can be up and about. Some cases require hospitalization.The source of the infection is also atypical, with mycoplasma pneumoniae, chlamydia pneumonia, legionella pneumophila and chlamydia psittaci the most common causes.¹‘Atypical Pneumonia.’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Apr. 2021, www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/atypical/index.html

The symptoms of atypical pneumonia are similar to typical pneumonia but tend to be milder. In many instances, those afflicted recover with self-care measures that include rest and fluids. Also, a course of antibiotics to be taken at home is usually prescribed.

Persistent Cough

The cough associated with atypical pneumonia is persistent, often coming on in violent spasms. Usually, it's a dry cough, getting worse in the night air.²‘Atypical Bacterial Pneumonia - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.’ National Center for Biotechnology Information, 15 Aug. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532239/ Over time, it may become wet, with discolored phlegm being coughed up. Droplets from coughing are one of the primary ways the bacteria associated with atypical pneumonia are spread.

A nagging cough may strain the chest muscles, resulting in chest pain. Although the cough may be similar to that of a common cold, the distinguishing feature is its persistent nature, often lingering for several weeks.