atypical pneumonia
Học thuậtThân thiện
A child with atypical pneumonia rests in bed while a doctor listens to their lungs.
Definition
Noun: * A respiratory illness: A type of pneumonia that differs from the more common "typical" bacterial pneumonia in its cause, symptoms, and response to treatment. It is often characterized by a more gradual onset and different symptoms.
Usage
- The term atypical pneumonia is used to describe a category of pneumonias caused by specific organisms other than the most common bacterium ().
- It is often used in medical contexts to distinguish this illness from classic lobar pneumonia.
- Example: "The patient's symptoms and chest X-ray were consistent with atypical pneumonia."
Advanced Usage
- "Walking pneumonia" is a common, informal term for a mild case of atypical pneumonia, often caused by , where the patient may not feel sick enough to stay in bed.
Variants and Related Words
- Primary atypical pneumonia (PAP): A more specific clinical term.
- Mycoplasma pneumonia: A very common type of atypical pneumonia.
- Legionnaires' disease: A severe form of atypical pneumonia caused by bacteria.
Synonyms
- Walking pneumonia (informal, for mild cases)
- Non-bacterial pneumonia (context-specific, though some causes are bacterial)
Different Meanings
- The word atypical alone means "not typical" or "unusual." In atypical pneumonia, it specifically modifies "pneumonia" to indicate its distinguishing medical characteristics.
Related Idioms/Phrases
- There are no common idioms using the phrase atypical pneumonia. It is a specific medical term.
A child with atypical pneumonia rests in bed while a doctor listens to their lungs.
Noun
- an acute respiratory disease marked by high fever and coughing; caused by mycoplasma; primarily affecting children and young adults