Parrot fever (psittacosis)

Overview

People catch it by breathing dust from dried bird droppings.

Sick birds may look fluffed up or have runny eyes.

Symptoms

Common signs:

• Fever and cough after bird contact
• Fever or cough after contact with pet birds

Less common

• Muscle aches

Look up a symptom: Fever

When to get medical care

Causes

Bacteria from birds.

Does it spread or run in families?

• It usually doesn't spread from person to person.
• People get it from: breathing in dust from bird droppings or feathers.

Who is more likely to get it

• Bird owners

Diagnosis

Tests.

Treatment

Treat.

Self-care

• Clean bird cages in a ventilated area
• Take all antibiotics

Medicines

Medicines that may help:

OwieClear doesn't give doses: follow the label or your healthcare professional. Medicine names here are examples, not a full list.

Prevention

To lower your risk or prevent problems:

• Clean bird cages carefully

Which doctor treats this

• Start with your primary care provider (family doctor or internist).
• They may send you to an infectious disease specialist, for hard-to-treat infections.

Children, pregnancy, and older adults

• Bird owners and pet store workers: Higher risk.
• Bird owners: Higher risk.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

• If you're pregnant or planning to be, tell your prenatal provider about this condition.
• Some infections can pass to the baby during pregnancy or birth. Tell your provider if you've been exposed.
• Don't start or stop any medicine on your own. Some are safe in pregnancy and some need to be changed.
• Ask before taking any pain reliever. The FDA advises avoiding ibuprofen and naproxen after 20 weeks unless your doctor says to.
• Breastfeeding: Most medicines are fine, but ask. The NIH LactMed database lists what's known about each one.

Outlook

Curable.

Getting ready for your visit

Bring a list of your symptoms and medicines.

What to bring

• A list of your medicines and supplements
• Notes on when symptoms started and what makes them better or worse

Questions to ask

• What's causing my symptoms?
• What treatment do you recommend?

Research studies

Research studies test new ways to find and treat health problems. Some are looking for volunteers. Talk with your doctor before joining one.

Search ClinicalTrials.gov for studies on Parrot fever (psittacosis)