Atypical pneumonia

Abstract

Pneumonia is an infection of parenchymal lung with high morbidity and mortality, characterized primarily by respiratory manifestations, fever and radiological findings. Most common etiology are bacteria and viruses, both difficult to differentiate clinically, with etiological and clinical behavior according to age groups and likely sites where the infection was acquired (community-acquired pneumonia and hospital-acquired pneumonia). Atypical pneumonia describes an unusual presentation of pneumonia. The term in its broadest meaning described a pneumonia caused by a group of relatively common pathogens (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Legionella spp and some viruses).