Chlamydia pneumoniae, and mycoplasma pneumoniae: Are they related to severe asthma in childhood?
Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae are frequent agents of acute respiratory diseases and they have been recognized as infectious triggers of asthma.



To determine the frequency of these triggers and their relationship to severe asthma.



82 patients were enrolled in a prospective cross-sectional study from January 2007 to March 2013 and they were divided into three study groups: Group 1: 27 children with severe asthma, Group 2: 29 children with stable asthma and Group 3: 26 children which was the control group. Serological tests included IgG and IgM for both C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae.



Average age ± SD was 10.9 ± 2.5 for Group 1; 10.1 ± 2.9 for Group 2 and 9.9± 1.9 for Group 3 (p = 0.4). M. pneumoniae IgM was observed in 6/27 (22.2%) in Group 1, 2/29 (6.9%) in Group 2 and 0/26 in the Control Group (p = 0,01). C.pneumoniae IgM was present in 7/26 (26.9%) in Group 1, 2/29 (6.9%) in Group 2 and 0/26 in Group 3 (p = 0.005). No significant difference was observed between Group 2 and Group 3. M. pneumoniae IgG was observed in 7/27 (25.9%) in Group 1, 4/29 (13.7%) in Group 2 and 0/26 in the Control Group (p < 0,05). C.pneumoniae IgG was present in 8/26 (30.7%) in Group 1, 5/29 (17.2%) in Group 2 and 0/26 in Group 3 (p < 0,05).



M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae may play a role in the development of severe asthma.
a Emergency Department , Clinical Hospital, Pediatric Department National University of Asuncion , San Lorenzo , Paraguay.|c Instituto Privado del Niño , Azara , Asunción , Paraguay.|d Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Clinical Hospital, National University of Asuncion , San Lorenzo , Paraguay.
Ricardo
R
Iramain
a Emergency Department , Clinical Hospital, Pediatric Department National University of Asuncion , San Lorenzo , Paraguay.
Raùl
R
De Jesús
b University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Public Health & Community Medicine , Seattle , WA , USA.
Cristopher
C
Spitters
a Emergency Department , Clinical Hospital, Pediatric Department National University of Asuncion , San Lorenzo , Paraguay.
Alfredo
A
Jara
d Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Clinical Hospital, National University of Asuncion , San Lorenzo , Paraguay.
Jimmy
J
Jimenez
a Emergency Department , Clinical Hospital, Pediatric Department National University of Asuncion , San Lorenzo , Paraguay.
Norma
N
Bogado
a Emergency Department , Clinical Hospital, Pediatric Department National University of Asuncion , San Lorenzo , Paraguay.
Laura
L
Cardozo
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D061387:Chlamydial Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
Chlamydia; Mycoplasma; acute asthma; severe asthma