Mycoplasma pneumoniae and other pathogens in the aetiology of lower respiratory tract infections among Japanese children.
The causes of lower respiratory tract infections in 1544 children attending a Japanese hospital over a period of 7 years were investigated. Both cultivation and two serological techniques were used to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae whereas viral involvement was investigated only by serology. Pathogens were identified in 52% of 1175 patients with pneumonia and 36% of 369 patients without pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was specifically diagnosed in 414 (26.8%) of the 1544 patients. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was dominant in children up to 2 years of age. By the age of 3 years, M. pneumoniae was equalling it in incidence and became the main pathogen in older groups. It is suggested that M. pneumoniae may be more important in the 3-6 years age group than hitherto suspected. These observations may influence the choice of antibiotics for treating lower respiratory tract infections in childhood.
Sakurai
N
N
Department of Pediatrics, Asahi General Hospital, Japan.
Nagayama
Y
Y
Honda
A
A
Makuta
M
M
Yamamoto
K
K
Kojima
S
S
D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons