All issues > Volume 33(3); 1990

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1990;33(3):315-323. Published online March 31, 1990.

Clinical Study of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection in Children.

Jong Woon Choi¹, Hoan Jong Lee¹, Byung Kiu Park¹, Hyung Ro Moon¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

Received: April 18, 1989;  Accepted: October 4, 1989.

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of clinical findings in 43 patients with M. pneumoniae infection who visited Department of Pediatrics of Seoul National University Hospital from January, 1987 till December, 1987 was performed. 1) The peak incidence of age was 5 to 9 years of age (20 cases; 46.5%), and male-to-female ratio was 1.05:1. 2) Monthly distribution showed a high frequency in April (10 cases; 23.3%) and seasonal distribution showed a high frequency in spring (March, April & May)(16 cases; 37.2%). 3) The common symptoms were cough (42 cases; 97.7%), fever, sputum and malaise in that order. Skin rash was noted in 4 cases (9.3%). 4) The common physical findings were rale (24 cases; 55.8%), pharyngeal injection, tonsilar hyper- trophy and cervical lymphadenopathy in that order. 5) WBC count was 5,000 to 9,999/mm3 in 61.5% of cases and neutrophilia (^70%) was noted in 29. 7% of cases. 6) Increased ESR (之 20 mm/hr) was noted in 86.2% of cases and CRP was positive in 85.2% of cases. ' 7) Cold agglutinin titers were higher than 1:64 in 52.5% of cases, which began to rise around 1 week from onset and reached the peak level around 2 weeks from onset. 8) Antimycoplasma antibody titers began to rise after 1 week from onset, reached the peak level 2 to 4 weeks from onset, and diminished slowly over several months. 9) The titers of antimycoplasma antibody and cold agglutinin were significantly higher in in- patients than in outpatients(p < 0.05). 10) On the chest X-ray examination, pulmonary infiltration was noted in 33 cases (86.8%) among 38 cases and right lower lobe involvement was the most common (12 cases; 36.4%). Pleural effusion was noted in 7 cases (21.2%) and atelectasis was noted in 8 cases (24.2%). 11) Complications were atelectasis (8 cases), pleural effusion of large amount (2 cases), paranasal sinusitis (1 case), erythema multiforme (1 case), and aseptic meningitis (1 Case). 12) Erythromycin was given in 38 cases. The mean duration of administration was 19.1±8.1 days, and fever subsided 3.0 ±2.2 days after onset of administration. All patients were completely recovered. 13) Transmission of infection in family was proved in 2 cases, and the incubation periods between patients were 16 days and 30 days.

Keywords :Mycoplasma pneumoniae