History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

common

presence of risk factors

Risk factors include overcrowding.

Other diagnostic factors

common

illness in other family members

Spread can occur in families.

cough

Non-specific; may be non-productive.

fever

Non-specific sign.

headache

Non-specific symptom.

rales

Consistent with pneumonia.

wheezes on chest auscultation

Common, but not diagnostic.

tachypnoea

Variable, dependent on extent of lung involvement.

uncommon

pleuritic chest pain

May occur with inspiration or cough.

dullness to percussion/reduced air entry/decreased tactile fremitus

May suggest pleural effusion.

Risk factors

strong

overcrowding

Outbreaks of pneumonia due to Chlamydia pneumoniae have been observed in military recruits and nursing-home populations.[5][6][7]

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