shortness of breath -- especially with exertion (activity)
rapid breathing
Signs and tests:
x-ray of the chest may reveal lung abnormalities -- yet up to 10% of individuals with PCP in the setting of AIDS may have a normal chest x-ray
sputum induction: for special stains to detect Pneumocystis carinii
bronchoscopy (with lavage) -- if sputum induction is negative
lung biopsy may rarely be needed if the above studies fail to yield a diagnosis
blood gases which may show decreased oxygen level in blood and helps in determining whether an individual might benefit from corticosteroids
Review Date: 2/13/2006
Reviewed By: Monica Gandhi, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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