Chlamydial Pneumonia

Paul C. Stillwell, MD, FAAP

Introduction/Etiology/Epidemiology

•There are 3 members of the Chlamydia family that can cause pneumonia in children: Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Chlamydia psittaci, and Chlamydia trachomatis.

•C pneumoniae accounts for <1% of the organisms identified in children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

—C pneumoniae is considered one of the “atypical pneumonias,” along with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Legionella, which are challenging to differentiate from one another and from other organisms without positive identification of the infecting agent.

—Children with sickle cell disease may be exceptionally prone to pneumonia with Chlamydophila, causing acute chest syndrome and potentially fatal outcome.

•Psittacosis is rare and is usually contracted from household pet birds.

•C trachomatis is usually acquired from the birth canal and accounts for many cases of “afebrile pneumonia of infancy” in the first few months after birth.

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