Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  1998 Sep;8(2):240-247.

A Study as Epidemiologic and Clinical Aspect of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia during the Last 5 Years

• Pyun BY
• Kim HH
• Chung JT
• Lee JS

Abstract

PURPOSE
It is not surprising that serologically based epidemiologic studies have documented the high incidence of mycoplasma respiratory infection throughout the world. We studied the epidemiologic and clinical aspects of mycoplasma pneumonia in children if there is any differences in the peak age-related incidence, seasonal predominance and clinical manifestations in compare with other studies reported in Korea.
METHODS
We reviewed 1004 cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia diagnosed by clinical manifestations and positive serologyc tests, retrospectively, who were admitted to the department of pediatrics in four university hospitals in Seoul and Inchon during the last 5 years from 1993 to 1997.
RESULTS
1) The age distribution of mycoplasma pneumonia showed highest incidence in children 4-6 years old. There was no difference in sex distribution at any age group. 2) Although there was little difference in annual distribution, it was highest in 1997. 3) Cough was the most prevalent prodromal symptom. 4) Vomiting, Nausea, Abdominal pain and headache were noted as the extrapulmonary manifestations. 5) Pulmonary infiltration was noted mostly in lower lobe lobes on chest X-ray. They showed interstial involvement in 34.5%, lobar involvement in 30.0%, and pleural effusion in 7.8% of the total. 6). As the complications, aggravate or trigger the asthma attack were noted in 4.0%, development of sinusitis in 3.5% and otitis media in 1.4% of the total. There were four cases of aseptic meningitis and one case of lung abscess.
CONCLUSIONS
In our survey, there was little or no epidemiologic differences in the incidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. We can find the increasing tendency of lobar pattern of involvement on chest X-ray in mycoplasma pneumonia in children.

Keyword

Mycoplasma pneumonia; Epidemiology; Children

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Age Distribution
Asthma
Child
Cough
Epidemiologic Studies
Epidemiology
Headache
Hospitals, University
Humans
Incheon
Incidence
Korea
Lung Abscess
Meningitis, Aseptic
Mycoplasma pneumoniae*
Mycoplasma*
Nausea
Otitis Media
Pediatrics
Pleural Effusion
Pneumonia*
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*
Prodromal Symptoms
Retrospective Studies
Seasons
Seoul
Sex Distribution
Sinusitis
Thorax
Vomiting