Question 1

how hard is it to diagnose pneumocystis pneumonia in us?

Accepted Answer

Not very: It occurs almost entirely in immune suppressed individuals.  It is generally an interstitial pneumonia which is slowly progressive,  presenting as increasing shortness of breath over a period of weeks.  Diagnostic stains on coughed sputum often reveal the organism, or therapeutic intervention because it is expected achieves satisfactory response, will allow a presumptive diagnosis.

Question 2

what is the definition or description of: pneumocystis pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Infection of lung: An organism called pneumocystis carini (now jirovechi) can cause infection of the lung, esp in the immunocompromised hosts and can cause profound hypoxemia, but is easily treated with good old septran.

Question 3

what medical conditions other than aids predisposes an individual to pneumocystis pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Immune deficiency: Any condition affecting the portion of the immune system mediated by helper lymphocytes may render susceptibility to pneumocystis.  Patients with lymphomas, some leukemias, etc., are at risk when their diseases are out of control.

Question 4

what is the treatment for pneumocystis pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Support and meds: Pcp pneumonia is treated like other pneumonia, specifically support including oxygen or mechanical ventilation if needed. Antibiotics specifically targeting pcp for example bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim). In pcp pneumonia that is associated with HIV disease, steroids for their antiinflammatory effect are also helpful.

Question 5

how do you treat pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Antibiotics: Pneumocystis jireovecii pnuemonia (formerly pcp) can be treated with IV Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) (tmp-smz) in most cases. In complicated situations (such as HIV infected patients) other agents that can be used include nebulized pentamidine, dapsone, Clindamycin + primaquine, atovaquone, trimetrexate. Treatment plan has to be determined based on each patient's specific circumstances. Talk to your doctor.

Question 6

why would someone with pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia have purple spots on body?

Accepted Answer

Could be other cause: Patients with pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia can be very sick & develop other complications such as sepsis. Many of them have other underlying disorders or immune system compromise (such as HIV or transplant related immunosuppression) which puts them at risk for severe sepsis. Those purple spots may be related to their critical illness & not due to pneumocystis jirovecii itself.

Question 7

what is the significance of purplish spots with pneumocystis carinii pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Not due to PCP: Although rarely, extrapulmonary involvement with pneumocystis occurs.  Nonetheless, cutaneous purple colored lesions are probably kaposi's sarcoma, a malignancy caused by herpesvirus 8, and seen in profoundly immuno-suppressed individuals, usually aids.  Both of these illness are exceptionally rare or  non-existent in persons with a normal immune system & respond to correction of the CD4 counts.

Question 8

what is the definition or description of: pneumocystis carinii?

Accepted Answer

Pneumocystis carinii: Pneumocystis carinii  pneumonia (PCP)  causes inflammation &amp; fluid accumulation in lungs. It is caused  by an opportunist infect with  Pneumocystis jiroveci fungus.

Question 9

what are the tests for pneumocystis infection?

Accepted Answer

Several: A chest x-ray can be suggestive but staining of the respiratory secretions to see the cyst form of the organism is the best test for this infection found almost entirely in severely immune suppressed people.

Question 10

what are the tests for pneumocystis infections?

Accepted Answer

Several: A chest x-ray can be suggestive but staining of the respiratory secretions to see the cyst form of the organism is the best test for this infection found almost entirely in severely immune suppressed people.

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Pneumocystis pneumonia signs

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How hard is it to diagnose pneumocystis pneumonia in us?

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What is the definition or description of: pneumocystis pneumonia?

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What medical conditions other than aids predisposes an individual to pneumocystis pneumonia?

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What is the treatment for pneumocystis pneumonia?

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How do you treat pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia?

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Why would someone with pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia have purple spots on body?

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What is the significance of purplish spots with pneumocystis carinii pneumonia?

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What is the definition or description of: pneumocystis carinii?

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What are the tests for pneumocystis infection?

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What are the tests for pneumocystis infections?

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