All issues > Volume 30(6); 1987

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1987;30(6):651-657. Published online June 30, 1987.

Clinical Observation on Pneumonia due to Mycoplasma Pneumoniae in Children.

Baik Lin Eun¹, Hyun Keum Lee¹

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

Abstract

The author determined mycoplasma antibody titer in 216 cases of pneumonia who were admitted to the pediatric ward of Korea Medical Center Guro Hospital from November, 1985 to September, 1986, and clinical investigation and statistical analysis were performed between mycoplasma anti- body positive group and negative group. The following results were obtained: 1) In 216 cases of children with pneumonia, incidence of mycoplasma antibody positive cases was 16.6% (36/216). 2) Comparison of mean age between mycoplasma antibody positive group and negative group revealed significantly older in positive group than negative group (6.5 ±2.7 years, 3.0 ±3.0 years respectively). 3) The sex ratio was 1.4: 1 in mycoplsma antibody positvie group and 1.7: 1 in negative group. 4) There was no significant difference in the clinical symptoms and the physical signs between both groups. 5) There was no significant difference in total leukocyte count and ESR between both groups, but absolute neutrophilia was significantly related to mycoplasma antibody positive group. 6) In 172 cases of children with pneumonia, cold agglutinin titers were measured also. The sensitivity was 78.8%, specificity was 87.1%, positive predictive value was 59.1%, negative predictive value was 94.5%. 7) On radiological findings, the segmental pneumonia was significantly related to mycoplasma antibody positive group. 8) There was no significant difference in mean duration of hospitalization between both groups. In conclusion, antibody confirmation of mycoplasma pneumoniae infection should certainly be sought in children with pneumonia associated with older age, normal leukocyte count, absolute neutrophilia and segmental pneumonia.

Keywords :Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.