Page Contents
- 1 WHAT IS IT?
- 2 WHY IS IT CONCERNING MEDICALLY?
- 3 WHAT IS THE INTIAL PRESENTATION?
- 4 WHAT ARE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY?
- 5 WHAT ARE IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE PHYSICAL EXAM?
- 6 CLINICAL WORKUP: SERUM STUDIES
- 7 CLINICAL WORKUP: IMAGING
- 8 HOW DO WE NARROW THE DIFFERENTIAL?
- 9 WHAT IS OUR THRESHOLD FOR DIAGNOSING THIS CONDITION?
- 10 PATIENT MANAGEMENT: DISEASE TREATMENT
- 11 COULD THIS HAVE BEEN PREVENTED?
- 12 ARCHIVE OF STANDARDIZED EXAM QUESTIONS
WHAT IS IT?
Mycoplasma pneumonia is a self descriptive condition. It is a pneumonia caused by the pathogen mycoplasma pneumoniae. This condition is typically referred to as an atypical pneumonia.
WHY IS IT CONCERNING MEDICALLY?
Pneumonias (like this one) can cause respiratory symptoms that are bothersome to patients, and in certain settings can compromise one’s ability to respirate.
WHAT IS THE INTIAL PRESENTATION?
Patient Chief Complaints: This condition is often subclinical but can present with (typically indolent) symptoms such as…
- Headache
- Malaise
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Rash
Detected Medical Problems:
- Pharyngitis
- Rash
- Anemia
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY?
Risk Factors:
- Living in close quarters: school dorms, military barracks.
Medical History:
- Persistent dry cough: this disease is characterized often by a persistent dry cough that will not go away.
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE PHYSICAL EXAM?
Vital Signs:
- Fever
HEENT Exam:
- Non exudative pharyngitis can be observed.
Dermatological Exam:
- Macular/vesicular rash may be present.
CLINICAL WORKUP: SERUM STUDIES
Complete Blood Count: the following findings are expected…
- Normal leukocyte count: typically this condition does not elevate white blood cell counts in patients.
- Anemia: some patients may have subclinical anemia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae causing cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
CLINICAL WORKUP: IMAGING
Chest X-Ray: This study can show the following features:
- Interstitial infiltrates
- Pleural effusion may be present in a fraction of patients.
HOW DO WE NARROW THE DIFFERENTIAL?
Conditions that present similarly and how to exclude them:
WHAT IS OUR THRESHOLD FOR DIAGNOSING THIS CONDITION?
PATIENT MANAGEMENT: DISEASE TREATMENT
Macrolides:
Respiratory fluoroquinolone:
COULD THIS HAVE BEEN PREVENTED?
ARCHIVE OF STANDARDIZED EXAM QUESTIONS
This archive compiles standardized exam questions that relate to this topic.
Page Updated: 02.11.2017