title: Detection of IgM and IgG antibodies to Chlamydophila pneumoniae in pediatric community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is an emerging infectious agent with a spectrum of clinical manifestations including lower and upper respiratory tract infections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of C. pneumoniae in community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children using serological tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred children, age 2 months to 12 years, hospitalized for community-acquired LRTIs were investigated for C. pneumoniae etiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 200 children hospitalized for community-acquired LRTIs, using ELISA for detecting anti-C. pneumoniae IgM and IgG antibodies. The demographic, clinical and radiological findings for C. pneumoniae antibody positive and C. pneumoniae antibody negative cases were compared.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data analysis was performed by Chi-square test and Fisher's exact tests using Epi Info (2002).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical and radiological findings in both the groups were comparable. Serological evidence of C. pneumoniae infection was observed in 12 (6%) patients; specific IgM antibodies were detected in 11 (91.67%; specific IgG antibodies in 1 (8.33%) patients, while 4-fold rise in C. pneumoniae IgG antibody titers were noted in none of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C. pneumoniae has a role in community-acquired LRTIs, even in children aged < 5 years. Serological detection using ELISA would enable pediatricians in better management of C. pneumoniae infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India. kumarsurinderdr@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Surinder
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Sanjeev R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Saigal
authors.forename: Gulshan R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Sethi
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M