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[Clinical features of 36 cases of psittacosis]
M Kuwabara1, N Tanemori, Y Kawaguti
1Hiroshima Prefectural Hiroshima Hospital.
Abstract:
Clinical features of 36 cases of psittacosis experienced from 1980 to 1988 were analyzed. The following results were obtained. 1) Sixteen patients were male; twenty were female. The thirty-six patients ranged in age from 29 to 76 years. 2) Fifteen patients had been exposed to Parakeets prior to the onset of illness. 3) High fever (94.1%) and cough (94.4%) were prominent clinical symptoms. 4) The number of pneumonic foci per lung field by chest X-ray, showed the right inferior lobe was most frequently involved (45.2%). According to the nature of roentgenological shadows, the ground-glass-like shadow was most frequent (70.6%). 5) Leucocytosis was present in only three patients. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were high in many patients. Half of the patients had elevated serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase. 6) All cases were treated with antibiotics and cured. The incidence of psittacosis may be increasing. Therefore, it is useful for clinicians to know the clinical features of this disease. These results may be useful in early diagnosis.
Insights
This study analyzed 36 psittacosis cases, finding high fever and cough were common symptoms. Early diagnosis of psittacosis is crucial as its incidence may be increasing.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
- Medical Microbiology
Background:
- Psittacosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Chlamydia psittaci, can present with varied clinical manifestations.
- Understanding the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of psittacosis is essential for timely diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the clinical features of psittacosis cases.
- To provide insights for early diagnosis and clinical recognition of psittacosis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 36 psittacosis cases diagnosed between 1980 and 1988.
- Review of patient demographics, exposure history, clinical symptoms, chest X-ray findings, and laboratory results.
Main Results:
- High fever (94.1%) and cough (94.4%) were the most frequent symptoms.
- Chest X-rays frequently showed involvement of the right inferior lobe (45.2%) with ground-glass-like shadows (70.6%).
- Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and transaminase levels were observed in many patients; leucocytosis was rare.
Conclusions:
- Psittacosis presents with characteristic clinical and radiological findings that aid in diagnosis.
- Antibiotic treatment was effective in all analyzed cases.
- The potential increase in psittacosis incidence underscores the importance of recognizing its clinical features for prompt diagnosis.