Symptom resolution in patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.
BACKGROUND
Mycoplasma pneumoniae generally causes pneumonia of mild to moderate severity in adults. However, little is known about the time course of the resolution of symptoms in this illness.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the time course of the resolution of symptoms in M pneumoniae pneumonia.


METHODS
The severity of fatigue, cough, dyspnea, sputum and pleuritic chest pain were self-scored and recorded daily for 14 days and on days 30 and 42. Each symptom was scored on a scale of 0 to 5. The sum of the five symptom scores had a range of 0 to 25 and was transformed into a value from zero to 100 by multiplying by four.


RESULTS
The mean composite symptom score for 76 patients was 59 (out of 100) at presentation, which declined to a score of 17 on day 14. Patients with a score of greater than 20 on day 14 had significantly higher scores throughout the course of the illness. Thirty-four per cent of those who were employed did not take time off work.


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients with M pneumoniae pneumonia had resolution of their symptoms within two weeks; however, 12.6% were still symptomatic at 42 days.
Marrie
Thomas J
TJ
Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. tom.marrie@ualberta.ca
Beecroft
Michael
M
Herman-Gnjidic
Zeljka
Z
Poulin-Costello
Melanie
M
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001372:Aza Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077266:Moxifloxacin; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011804:Quinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001372:Aza Compounds; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D011804:Quinolines; D017291:Clarithromycin; D000077266:Moxifloxacin