Psittacosis

Psittacosis

Definition:

Psittacosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci, which is spread to humans by birds, causing systemic (throughout the body) symptoms and pneumonia.

Alternative Names:

Chlamydial pneumonia; Ornithosis; Chlamydia psittaci

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Psittacosis is caused by Chlamydia psittaci, a bacterium found in the droppings of birds. It is a rare disease-- fewer than 50 cases have been reported in the U.S. in the past 5 years.

Bird owners, pet shop employees, workers in poultry processing plants, and veterinarians are at increased risk for acquiring this infection.

Symptoms:

Fever and chills
Muscle aches
Headache
Fatigue
Dry cough
Shortness of breath
Rales may be present
Blood-tinged sputum

Signs and tests:

Abnormal lung sounds such as rales and decreased breath sounds are heard when listening to the chest with a stethoscope.

Tests include:

X-ray of the chest (interstitial infiltrates)
CT scan of the chest
Blood gas (decreased oxygen saturation)
Sputum culture
Blood culture (grows chlamydia)
Antibody titer

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.

Expectations (prognosis):

Full recovery is expected.

Complications:

Decreased pulmonary function as a result of the pneumonia
Heart valve infection
Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
Brain involvement

Calling your health care provider:

Antibiotics are needed to treat this infection. If you develop symptoms suggestive of psittacosis, call your health care provider.

Prevention:

Avoid exposure to suspect birds (often imported parakeets and similar birds carry this bacterium). Treat underlying medical problems that cause immune dysfunction and increase susceptibility to this disease.

Review Date: 7/31/2002
Reviewed By: Christopher Parsons, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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