Which option best describes the symptom range of psittacosis in humans?

Which option best describes the symptom range of psittacosis in humans?

• A. Severe pneumonia with no other symptoms
• B. Mild nonspecific illness to severe pneumonia
• C. Skin rash only
• D. Asymptomatic only

Answer: (B)

Psittacosis can present along a wide clinical spectrum in humans. It often starts as a mild, nonspecific illness with fever, malaise, headache, and a dry cough, but it can progress to atypical or even severe pneumonia with more pronounced respiratory symptoms. Because of this variability, describing the illness as ranging from mild nonspecific symptoms to severe pneumonia best captures how psittacosis can appear in different patients. The other descriptions are too narrow. It isn’t limited to a skin rash, nor is it typically asymptomatic, and it isn’t confined to severe pneumonia in all cases.

Psittacosis can present along a wide clinical spectrum in humans. It often starts as a mild, nonspecific illness with fever, malaise, headache, and a dry cough, but it can progress to atypical or even severe pneumonia with more pronounced respiratory symptoms. Because of this variability, describing the illness as ranging from mild nonspecific symptoms to severe pneumonia best captures how psittacosis can appear in different patients.

The other descriptions are too narrow. It isn’t limited to a skin rash, nor is it typically asymptomatic, and it isn’t confined to severe pneumonia in all cases.