Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  2002 May;9(1):85-94. 10.14776/kjpid.2002.9.1.85.

The Study of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection in Children with Respiratory Tract Infection

• Cho JI
• Kim JG
• Kim JH
• Cho JH
• Kim JD

• KMID: 2440131
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14776/kjpid.2002.9.1.85

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed for analysis of the results of polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and antibody test of Mycoplasma pneumoniae(M. pneumoniae) in children with symptoms of respiratory tract infection. In the cases of both positive antibody test and PCR for M. pneumoniae, the chest X-ray findings were assessed.
METHODS
The antibody test was done in 1,979 cases who have been admitted to Wonkwang university hospital department of pediatrics with symptoms of respiratory tract infection from January, 2000 to December, 2001. The positive antibody test was defined as titer of 1: 80 and over 1 : 80. The PCR of M. pneumoniae were done in randomly selected 131 cases of respiratory tract infection. The chest X-ray findings were assessed in the cases of positive antibody test and PCR.
RESULTS
The numbers of cases of the positive antibody test for M. pneumoniae were 499 cases(25%). The PCR for M. pneumoniae were performed in 131 cases and the 45 cases(34%) were positive and 86 cases(66%) were negative. The 56 of 86 PCR negative cases were also negative antibody test, but 30 cases were positive antibody test. The 36 cases of 45 PCR positive cases were antibody positive, and 9 cases were antibody negative. The sputum Gram stain and culture for M. pneumoniae were negative in all the 499 cases of mycoplasma antibody positive respiratory infection. In these antibody positive 499 cases, the most common X-ray findings was interstitial pneumonic infiltration in 266 cases(53%), and pleural effusion were detected in 22 cases(4%), but nonspecific chest X-ray finding showed in 129 cases(26%). In PCR positive 45 cases, the most common chest X-ray finding was interstitial pneumonic infiltration in 32 cases(71%).
CONCLUSION
The PCR for M. pneumoniae is more useful method for detection of mycoplasma infection in children with respiratory tract infection. The M. pneumoniae is a important etiologic agent for respiratory infection in children.

Keyword

Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Polymerase chain reaction

MeSH Terms

Child*
Hospital Departments
Humans
Methods
Mycoplasma Infections
Mycoplasma pneumoniae*
Mycoplasma*
Pediatrics
Pleural Effusion
Pneumonia
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Respiratory System*
Respiratory Tract Infections*
Sputum
Thorax