Atypical Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that many different viruses, bacteria, and fungi can cause.
History of the name “atypical pneumonia”
Before modern diagnostic tests were available, researchers noticed that some pneumonias had different characteristics compared to “typical” pneumonias, such as
- Caused slightly different symptoms than typical pneumonia
- Appeared different on a chest X-ray than typical pneumonia or
- Responded differently to antibiotics that were used for typical bacteria
They called these “atypical”.
What “atypical pneumonia” means today
Now researchers usually consider bacteria as being “atypical” if they are hard to detect through standard bacterial methods. These “atypical” bacteria include
- Chlamydia pneumoniae
- Chlamydia psittaci
- Legionella pneumophila
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Even though these infections are called “atypical,” they are not uncommon.
Common Types of Pneumonia Caused by Atypical Bacteria
- Chlamydia pneumoniae Infection
This illness is most common in school-aged children and usually develops into mild pneumonia or bronchitis… - Psittacosis
People get this illness, caused by Chlamydia psittaci, from infected pet birds (parrots, parakeets) and poultry (turkeys, ducks)… - Legionnaires’ Disease
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe type of pneumonia that is caused by a type of bacteria called Legionella… - Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection
This generally mild illness is a common cause of “walking pneumonia”…
How Do You Say That?
Find pronunciation guides below for common words associated with atypical pneumonia.
- Bronchitis — brahn-KITE-uss
- Chlamydia — klah-MID-e-a
- Legionella — lee-juh-NELL-a
- Legionnaires — lee-juh-NAIRS
- Mycoplasma — MY-ko-plaz-ma
- Pneumonia — noo-MOAN-yah
- Pneumoniae — noo-MOAN-e-a
- Psittaci — SIT-ah-see
- Psittacosis — sit-ah-KOH-sis
- Pneumophila — noo-MAH-fil-ah
- Streptococcus — strep-toe-KAH-kuss
- Tracheobronchitis — TRAY-key-o-brahn-KITE-uss