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Podcast: Parrot Fever Unmasked- From Pet Birds to Pneumonia, A Guide to Psittacosis

Is it a severe headache and fever that feels like a nasty flu? A persistent dry cough that progresses to pneumonia? What if the source wasn't another person, but your beloved pet bird, or even dust kicked up while mowing the lawn? You could be dealing with psittacosis. Also known as ornithosis or "parrot fever," this zoonotic disease is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci and is transmitted from birds to humans. While highly treatable, it can cause severe illness if not recognized early.

In this episode, we shine a light on this great medical imitator. We cut through the complexity to provide a practical guide for clinicians, bird owners, and anyone with occupational exposure to birds, explaining how to spot the risks and manage the disease effectively.

Join us to learn:

• The lifecycle of Chlamydia psittaci and how it spreads from over 460 species of birds—including asymptomatic pets—to humans through the inhalation of dried droppings and secretions.
• The classic symptoms that set it apart from a typical flu or community-acquired pneumonia, including severe headaches and the tell-tale sign of pulse-temperature dissociation.
• Who is most at risk, from pet shop employees and poultry workers to those with surprising environmental exposures from activities like gardening.
• Why a thorough patient history focusing on animal contact is the most crucial first step in diagnosis, and how modern PCR testing has become the gold standard for confirmation.
• The specifics of treatment, including why doxycycline is the antibiotic of choice and why common beta-lactam antibiotics are ineffective.
• Straightforward, actionable prevention strategies, from proper cage hygiene and handwashing to the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) like P2 masks.

The good news is that with a high index of suspicion and prompt, appropriate antibiotic therapy, the prognosis for psittacosis is excellent. Tune in to understand this important zoonotic infection and learn how to keep yourself, your family, and your patients safe.

Keywords: Psittacosis; Ornithosis; Parrot Fever; Chlamydia psittaci; Zoonotic Disease; Atypical Pneumonia; Doxycycline; Bird Handling; Avian Disease; Notifiable Disease; Occupational Exposure; Pulse-Temperature Dissociation.

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