What are the symptoms of psittacosis and when do they appear? In humans, the symptoms are fever, headache, chills, muscle pains, cough, and sometimes breathing difficulty or pneumonia. If left untreated, the disease can be severe, and even result in death, especially in older people.
How long does human psittacosis last?
Some reports show that inflammation of the liver, lining of the heart cavity, the heart muscle, and the brain can occur. The course of the disease is variable and it can result in death. However, fatal cases are rare. In mild cases, fever may continue for three weeks or more.
How do you test for psittacosis in humans?
Psittacosis is most commonly diagnosed by serologic testing. Antibodies to Chlamydia psittaci can be detected using microimmunofluorescence (MIF), complement fixation (CF), and immunofluorescent antibody tests (IFA).
How does psittacosis affect the body?
Psittacosis can affect the lungs and may cause inflammatory illness of the lungs (pneumonia). Additional common symptoms include fever, muscle pain (myalgia), headaches, and a dry cough. Psittacosis is caused by infection with the bacterium, Chlamydia psittaci, and may also be known as ornithosis.
Does psittacosis go away?
Thankfully, there is a treatment for psittacosis. About 50 percent of birds are said to die from this infection if left untreated, but antibiotics are usually successful in treating it.
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