Psittacosis Causes and Risks:
Psittacosis is caused by Chlamydia
psittaci, an infectious agent found in the droppings of birds. Symptoms include fever and chills, fatigue, muscle aches, and headache. Symptoms of pneumonia can be quite severe.
Prevention:
Avoid exposure to suspect birds (usually imported parakeets, etc.). Treat underlying medical problem, if one is present.
Symptoms:
Signs and Tests:
Abnormal lung sounds such as rales are heard when listening to the chest with a stethoscope.
Tests include:
Treatment:
The infection is treated with antibiotics, including: - tetracycline
- doxycycline
- erythromycin
- azithromycin
Note: oral tetracycline is usually not prescribed for children until after all the permanent teeth have erupted; it can permanently discolor teeth that are still forming.
Prognosis:
Full recovery is expected.
Complications:
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
You will need to receive antibiotics to treat this infection. If you develop symptoms of psittacosis, call your health care provider.
This is an illustration of the major features of the lungs and bronchial tree. The inset is of the alveoli. They are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.
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