Signs and Symptoms

In people

In general, psittacosis is a mild illness. The most common symptoms include:

• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Dry cough

Most people begin developing signs and symptoms within 5 to 14 days after exposure to the bacteria (Chlamydia psittaci). Less commonly, people report symptoms starting after 14 days.

In birds

The signs of C. psittaci infection in birds are non-specific and include:

• Poor appetite
• Inflamed eyes
• Breathing difficulty
• Diarrhea

Infected birds may not have signs of disease or seem sick. When birds have symptoms caused by C. psittaci infection, veterinarians call the disease avian chlamydiosis.