Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2012 Sep;22(3):256-264.

Clinical Characteristics of Children with Lobar Pneumonia Caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae

• Yang EA
• Gang MH
• You SY
• Kim JH
• Lee JH

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics and laboratory findings of lobar pneumonia in children caused by Mycoplasma pneumonia and to find a diagnostic tool for identifying M. pneumoniae infection in children.
METHODS
We analyzed medical records of 78 children between March 2010 and December 2011, who were admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with lobar pneumonia on the basis of chest X-rays. White blood cells (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), specific antibodies to M. pneuomoniae, and cold agglutinin (CA) were measured at the time of admission. Children were divided into 2 groups: those with M. pneuomoniae infection (group A) and those without infection (group B). Group A children were also subdivided into 2 categories: those with increased CA (group 1) and those without (group 2).
RESULTS
The prevalence of lobar pneumonia was higher in the year 2011 than in 2010. M. pneuomoniae infection usually occurs in summer and autumn. Group A children accounted for 75.6% (59/78) of all the cases. The onset ages was higher in group A than in group B (P=0.016). WBC counts and PCT values were higher in group B than in group A.(P=0.015 and P=0.011, respectively) Radiologic findings showed that the lower lobe was most commonly involved without predilection for either side and pleural effusion was present in 13.6% of all the cases. The duration of fever before admission was longer in group 1 than in group 2.(P=0.019)
CONCLUSION
It is concluded that lobar pneumonia caused by M. pneuomoniae can be more accurately diagnosed using serum PCT values than using CRP values.

Keyword

Pneumonia; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Child; Procalcitonin

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
C-Reactive Protein
Calcitonin
Child
Cold Temperature
Fever
Humans
Leukocytes
Medical Records
Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Pleural Effusion
Pneumonia
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma
Prevalence
Protein Precursors
Thorax
Antibodies
C-Reactive Protein
Calcitonin
Protein Precursors

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Monthly distribution of lobar pneumonia.

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