In statistics, an outlier is one that, when compared to the rest of the data obtained, is numerically distant.
The atypical adjective qualifies that which, due to its properties or characteristics, is different from the common types or the models that represent the elements of its class. The concept of atypical can be linked to ideas such as strange, strange, irregular or extravagant.
For example: “I don't understand why the dog reacted that way: it is something atypical” , “It will be an atypical tournament since, for the first time in history, thirty teams will participate” , “It is an atypical summer, with temperatures that remain below 20º” .
The atypical as out of the ordinary
The atypical, in short, is what escapes the common . Suppose that a man , when leaving his workplace, usually goes home without exception and usually arrives between 6 and 7 p.m. If one day at 9 p.m. you still have not returned home, it is probably an atypical situation. So it would be understandable if, if you haven't previously talked about a change in plans, your family might begin to worry about the excessive delay.
The notion of atypical also appears in various sciences and disciplines. In the field of statistics, we speak of an outlier with reference to an observation that, compared to the other data collected, is numerically very distant. If in a sample of 100 people, 99 individuals measure between 1.50 and 1.85 meters and one subject measures 2.20 meters, this last value can be indicated as atypical.
A type of respiratory disease
For medicine, on the other hand, atypical pneumonia is a type of pneumonia ( a disease that affects the respiratory system) that does not have its origin in the usual pathogens.
First of all, it is necessary to mention that typical pneumonia is the swelling or inflammation of the lung tissue that occurs when a germ causes an infection. In the case of atypical, the infection is caused by another type of bacteria . Although at first glance it may seem otherwise, the symptoms of the latter are usually milder than those of the former.
Atypical pneumonia is a type of respiratory disease.
Causes of atypical pneumonia
Before detailing the symptoms, it is necessary to delve into the causes , which in this case include the attack of three different types of bacteria:
* Mycoplasma : causes homonymous pneumonia, which usually affects individuals who have not yet reached 40 years of age;
* Chlamydophila pneumoniae : this type of atypical pneumonia can appear at any time of the year;
* Legionella : it occurs very frequently in adults or elderly people, with immune problems, chronic diseases or with tobacco addiction. It is known as Legionnaires' disease .
Evolution of the condition
Atypical pneumonia caused by the first two bacteria is usually mild, while the third presents a curve characterized by an increase in severity during the first six days, followed by improvement that can take a maximum of five days. Among the most common symptoms are chills, cough (in the case of Legionella pneumonia, it may include blood and mucus), fever of varying intensity, and problems breathing normally (especially when exerting effort).
On the other hand, we have a series of symptoms that do not appear as frequently, among which are: chest pain (becomes more severe when coughing or breathing deeply), confusion (especially in elderly people), headache , lack of appetite, fatigue, joint stiffness, muscle pain and sweating. The least common are: diarrhea, pain in the eyes and ears, lump in the neck, and rash.
Patients with atypical pneumonia should undergo a complete evaluation by their doctor, followed by a chest x-ray to rule out other respiratory infections , such as bronchitis.