Chlamydia pneumoniae strain TWAR pharyngitis in US Air Force basic trainees.
Chlamydia pneumoniae has recently been shown to be a cause of pharyngitis. Because the impact of this pathogen on United States Air Force basic trainees is unknown, the authors undertook a prospective study to evaluate the prevalence of C pneumoniae. Of 118 asymptomatic basic trainees, 43% had preexisting antibodies to C pneumoniae and 0.9% had serologic evidence of C pneumoniae infection. Of 226 symptomatic basic trainees, only four (1.8%) met the criteria for serologic evidence of acute C pneumoniae infection. No other cause of pharyngitis was found in three of four of these basic trainees. Three of the trainees with C pneumoniae infection had hoarseness and all had a dry cough. All symptoms resolved without specific antichlamydial therapy. Chlamydia pneumoniae was an uncommon cause of pharyngitis in basic trainees, appearing as a mild, self-limiting illness.
Hargreaves
J E
JE
Infectious Disease Service, Willford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Tex.
Zajac
R A
RA
Kuo
C C
CC
Wang
S P
SP
Grayston
J T
JT
D000208:Acute Disease; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008889:Military Personnel; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014481:United States
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial