Friday, February, 10, 2012

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Pneumocystosis; PCP; Pneumocystis carinii


Symptoms

Pneumocystis pneumonia in those with AIDS usually develops slowly over days to weeks or even months, and is less severe. People with pneumocystis pneumonia who do not have AIDS usually get sick faster and are more acutely ill.

Symptoms include:

  • Cough -- often mild and dry
  • Fever
  • Rapid breathing
  • Shortness of breath -- especially with activity (exertion)

Signs and tests
  • Blood gases
  • Bronchoscopy (with lavage)
  • Lung biopsy
  • X-ray of the chest
  • Sputum exam to check for fungus that causes the infection

Review Date: 12/01/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)