title: Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Korean children: the epidemiology of pneumonia over an 18-year period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term epidemiology of MP pneumonia in Korean children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of a database of 2405 patients with pneumonia at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital between 1986 and 2004 was performed. Serologic diagnosis for MP infection was made based on a 4-fold rise or single titers >/=1:640, which were measured by an indirect agglutination test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MP pneumonia was diagnosed in 568 patients over 18 years. The mean age was 5.7 years. Children younger than 5 years of age accounted for 44% of the cases. Six outbreaks were observed at intervals of 3-4 years. The earlier epidemics up until 1996 peaked in the summer, while the later epidemics peaked in the fall or early winter. Children <5 years old were more commonly affected during large epidemics compared to endemic periods. The geometric mean antibody titers were maintained >/=1:320 up to 7 months after the onset of illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study revealed community outbreaks of MP pneumonia at 3-4-year intervals among Korean children. A significant proportion of young Korean children were affected by MP pneumonia, especially during large epidemics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Wook
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Eun
authors.forename: Nam Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Hwa
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hoan Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial