The treatment
The treatment of a Chlamydia infection is by antibiotics. The antibiotic of choice here is doxycycline, which is prescribed for 10 – 21 days. Alternatively, macrolides or quinolones can be administered.
Beta lactam antibiotics such as penicillin should not be taken under any circumstances, as chlamydia has a different cell structure and this type of antibiotic does not help. Furthermore, a special score (CRB-65 score) should be obtained to assess the severity of the pneumonia. This will assess consciousness, breathing rate, blood pressure and age.
From one point on, hospitalization is indicated. At two points there is an increased risk of complications and from three points onwards the patient should be transferred to an intensive care unit. The supportive treatment measures are an intake of a lot of fluid, an intake of painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen) and antitussives (remedies for chesty cough).
If the oxygen supply is reduced, oxygen can be supplied via a nasal probe. Physiotherapy can also lead to a better distribution volume of air, which improves the ventilation of the lungs. The course of the disease can thus be shortened. A pneumonia caused by chlamydia is serious in rare cases. In most cases, antibiotic treatment of pneumonia for a few days and physical rest is sufficient.
The diagnosis
First the attending physician should take the medical history. This should include symptoms such as cough, fever and chills. The question of whether birds are kept is also particularly important.
During the physical examination the lungs should be listened to and an enlargement of the liver and spleen should be ruled out. If suspicion exists, a bronchoscopy (lung endoscopy) with a tissue sample can be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Chlamydia DNA can be detected in the tissue. Alternatively, a blood sample can be taken to cultivate the pathogen (cell culture) or to detect the antibodies.
The duration
The duration of the disease depends on the stage of the pneumonia. In most cases, atypical pneumonia is milder and patients are late for the doctor. For this reason, antibiotic therapy is usually given for two weeks. Patients are usually cured afterwards. Fortunately, complications are rare and the disease heals without consequences.
The course of the disease
Usually the disease begins insidiously and worsens over time. In addition to fatigue and slightly elevated temperatures, muscle and limb pain can occur. As the disease progresses, pneumonia with shortness of breath can develop.
If the infection is still not detected, the risk of further complications increases. These would be an inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or the heart valves (endocarditis). This can lead to heart stumbling and circulatory problems.
It is also possible that the meninges (meningitis) may be affected with clouding of consciousness. In these cases the therapy is more difficult and a stay in hospital is indicated. However, if diagnosed in time and treated adequately, the infection heals without consequences.
