Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- persistent cough
- dry cough
- prolonged symptoms
- fever
- pneumonia on physical exam
- exposure to a person with respiratory tract infection
Other diagnostic factors
- throat involvement
- rash
- headache
- bullous myringitis
- hepatitis
- urethritis
- cervicitis
- pelvic pain
Risk factors
- close community settings
- recent exposure
- cigarette smoking
- immunosuppression
- asplenia
- age <30 years
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- WBC count
- hemoglobin
- LFTs
- oxygen saturation
- BUN
- chest x-ray
Investigations to consider
- polymerase chain reaction
- serology
- nasopharyngeal viral cultures
- culture/Gram stain
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors

Associate Professor in Medicine
Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center
Jerusalem
Israel
Disclosures
RNP has received research grants from US-Israel Binational Science Foundation, Hebrew University, Rosetrees Trust, and SpeeDx Ltd. RNP is chair of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia Infections (ESGMAC). RNP is a consultant for and has stocks in eDAS Healthcare. RNP is an author of several references cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Director
Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene
Dresden
Germany
Disclosures
EJ declares that he has no competing interests.
Research Scientist
Pediatric Infectious Disease
California Department of Public Health
Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory
Richmond
CA
Disclosures
LC declares that she has no competing interests.
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