Efficacy of Mycoplasma Antibody Test and Cold Agglutinin Test in the Diagnosis of Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Children

Son, Jung Ae; Park, Weon; Lee, Dong Jin

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to compare the diagnostic value of the Mycoplasma antibody (M- Ab) test and the cold agglutinin (CA) test from the onset of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia to its diagnosis in children.
METHODS
We analyzed 48 cases of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in children who were admitted to the Pediatric Department of Ulsan Dongkang General Hospital for 1 year in 1996 which were diagnosed retrospectively by clinical findings and by both the M-Ab test and CA test on admission.
RESULTS
The peak incidence of age was between 5 and 9 years, and the sex ratio of boy to girl was 1:1.1. In the 48 cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia, 13 cases (27.1%) had a duration of below 7 days from onset of disease to diagnosis; 24 cases (50.0%), 7 days to 13 days; 7 cases (14.6%), 14 days to 20 days; and 4 cases (8.3%), over 21 days. The positive rate of the M-Ab test (87.5%) was significantly higher than that of the CA test (37.5%) in the total 48 cases (P<0.01). The positive rate of the M-Ab test (92.3%) was significantly higher than that of the CA test (15.4%) in 13 cases which were above-mentioned (P<0.01). The positive rate of the M-Ab test (87.5%) was significantly higher than that of the CA test (45.8%) in 24 cases which were above-mentioned (P<0.01). The positive rate of the M-Ab test (71.4%) was the same as that of the CA test (71.4%) in 7 cases which were above-mentioned. The 4 cases which were above-mentioned, were positive in the M-Ab test only (P<0.05). No significant relationship was found between the M-Ab test and the CA test.
CONCLUSION
The positive rate of the M-Ab test was higher than that of the CA test, especially in cases which had the duration of below 14 days and over 21 days from onset of disease to diagnosis, so the M-Ab test was considered more effective for early diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumonia in chidren during that period.