clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia starts insidiously with symptoms of:
- breathlessness - so called silent breathlessness
- dry cough
There may also be tachypnoea, though chest crackles or other physical signs are rarely present. There may however be other signs of HIV infection such as oral thrush and weight loss.
There is a progressive impairment of gas exchange and cyanosis ultimately develops.