Abstract

GRUNFELD DE VIU, Julia; SCAPINI, Juan P.  and  ALARCON, Marta. Infección respiratoria por Mycoplasma pneumoniae en pediatría. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2006, vol.104, n.5, pp.412-415. ISSN 0325-0075.

Introduction. We describe the characteristics of a group of patients with respiratory infections due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, who attended to a private pediatric service, during a seventeen years period. Population, materiales and methods. Between 1987 and 2003, 646 patients with diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, were studied. Only serologically confirmed patients, aged 6 months to 13 years were included. IgM and IgG antibodies to Mycoplasma were detected. Physical examination, laboratory tests, and radiographs (thorax and nasal sinuses) were investigated. Results. The proportion of children under 5 years increased progresively during the last years of the study. Also, epidemic breakouts were not detected during the last few years. Persistent, emetizing cough, was the most frequent clinical characteristic. Conclusions. In the last few years Mycoplasma pneumoniae prevalence in children under 5 years old appears to be increasing and the infection showed an endemic pattern.

Keywords : Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Respiratory infection.

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