Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2013 Dec;1(4):357-361. 10.4168/aard.2013.1.4.357.

Factors associated with various clinical manifestations of Mycoplasma pneumonia in children

• Kim YN
• Park CH
• Kim SH
• Yoo SJ
• Kim HB

• KMID: 2262594
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2013.1.4.357

Abstract

PURPOSE
Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) is a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia in children and young adults. We aimed to investigate the factors that may influence on the clinical manifestations of MP in children.
METHODS
A total of 109 admitted children from October 2011 to February 2012 were prospectively enrolled with physical examination and laboratory tests (complete blood count, C-reactive protein [CRP], and particle agglutinin assay). The diagnosis of MP was made when there was an infiltration on the chest X-ray and the particle agglutination test was once over 1:640 or showed 4-fold increase in serial tests. They were grouped by age, fever duration after treatment, presence of pleural effusion and wheezing.
RESULTS
Preschool children showed shorter duration of fever (P=0.001), more wheezing (P<0.001), lower segmented neutrophil (P<0.001), and lower CRP levels (P=0.004) compared to schoolchildren. Prolonged fever (>3 days) and pleural effusion were developed in children with higher CRP (P=0.018 and P=0.007). Wheezing has been developed in children with younger age (P=0.007).
CONCLUSION
Younger age was a risk factor to develop wheezing in MP and prolonged fever and pleural effusion were more likely to develop in children with higher CRP.

Keyword

Mycoplasma pneumonia; Age factors; Fever; Pleural effusion; Wheezing; C-reactive protein

MeSH Terms

Age Factors
Agglutination Tests
C-Reactive Protein
Child*
Child, Preschool
Diagnosis
Fever
Humans
Mycoplasma*
Neutrophils
Physical Examination
Pleural Effusion
Pneumonia
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*
Prospective Studies
Respiratory Sounds
Risk Factors
Thorax
Young Adult
C-Reactive Protein

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