title: Mycoplasma pneumoniae and asthma in children.
abstract: The aim of this prospective study of a population of children (age, 2-15 years) hospitalized for severe asthma was to test them for acute infection due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae and acute infection due to Chlamydia pneumoniae. Of 119 patients with previously diagnosed asthma, acute M. pneumoniae infection was found in 24 (20%) and C. pneumoniae infection was found in 4 (3.4%) of the patients during the current exacerbation. Of 51 patients experiencing their first asthma attack, acute M. pneumoniae infection was proven in 26 (50%) of the patients (P<.01) and C. pneumoniae in 4 (8.3%). In the control group of 152 children with stable asthma or rhinitis, 8 (5.2%) had M. pneumoniae infection (P<.005). Of the 29 patients experiencing their first asthma attack and infected with M. pneumoniae or C. pneumoniae, 18 (62%) had asthma recurrences but only 6 (27%) of the 22 patients who did not have such infections had asthma recurrences (P<.05). M. pneumoniae may play a role in the onset of asthma in predisposed children and could be a trigger for recurrent wheezing.
authors.affiliation: Saint Vincent de Paul-Cochin Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biscardi
authors.forename: Mathie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lorrot
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marc
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moulin
authors.forename: Benedicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boutonnat-Faucher
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heilbronner
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Iniguez
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaussain
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicand
authors.forename: Josette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gendrel
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000150:complications*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000503:physiopathology