Diagnosis, Treatment, and Complications

Diagnosis

Doctors may test to see if a patient has Chlamydia pneumoniae infection with a:

• Laboratory test that involves taking a sample of sputum (phlegm) or swab from the nose or throat
• Blood test

Treatment

Doctors can use antibiotics to treat C. pneumoniae infections, although most people will recover on their own without medicine.

Doctors can use several types of antibiotics to treat C. pneumoniae infections. If a doctor diagnoses someone with a C. pneumoniae infection, they will decide the best treatment.

Complications

C. pneumoniae infection is most often a mild disease. However, serious complications can occur that result in needing care or treatment in a hospital, including:

• Worsening asthma
• Encephalitis (swelling in the brain)
• Myocarditis (swelling of the heart)

C. pneumoniae can cause chronic infection. Some experts think that chronic C. pneumoniae infection might contribute to chronic conditions, such as asthma, arthritis, and atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in arteries).