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Psittacosis, Pediatric

Nicholas Tsarouhas, MD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • An acute febrile disease characterized by pneumonitis and other systemic symptoms

  • The name is derived from the Greek for parrot, psittakos; thus, psittacosis is often referred to as “...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Mandatory to question parents about exposure of the patient to any type of bird—wild or domestic

  • Signs and symptoms

    • Abrupt onset of symptoms

    • Fever, headache, cough, weakness, chills, mus...

TREATMENT

MEDICATION

First Line

  • Tetracycline (40 mg/kg/24 h divided q6h) or doxycycline (100 mg b.i.d.) in children ≥8 years of age

  • In patients with severe infection, IV doxycycline (4 mg/kg/24 h, divide...

ONGOING CARE

PROGNOSIS

  • The mortality rate prior to the advent of antimicrobial treatment was 15–20%, but now <1% with appropriate antibiotic therapy.

  • Resolution of fever and most other systemic sympt...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • American Academy of Pediatrics. Chlamydial infections: Chlamydophila (formerly Chlamydia) psittaci (psittacosis, ornithosis). In: Kimberlin DW, Brady MT, Jackson MA, et-al, eds. Red...

CODES

ICD9

  • 073.9 Ornithosis, unspecified

  • 073.0 Ornithosis with pneumonia

  • 073.7 Ornithosis with other specified complications

  • 073.8 Ornithosis with unspecified complication

ICD10

A70 Chlamydia psittaci infec...

FAQ

  • Q: How is a clinical case confirmed?

  • A: A clinically compatible illness with fever, chills, headache, cough, and myalgia with (i) isolation of C. psittaci from respiratory tract specimens or blood ...

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