Clinical presentations of Chlamydia pneumoniae in children hospitalized for acute respiratory infections: a comparison to Mycoplasma pneumonia.
10.4168/aard.2015.3.5.346
- Author:
Jae Jin SUNG
1
;
Eun Jin KIM
;
Yong Han SUN
;
In Sang JEON
;
Hann TCHAH
;
Eell RYOO
;
Dong Woo SON
;
Hye Kyung CHO
;
Hye Jung CHO
;
Na Yeon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea. chdsyh@gilhospital.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Chlamydia pneumoniae;
Respiratory infections;
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- MeSH:
Child*;
Chlamydia*;
Chlamydophila pneumoniae*;
Coinfection;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Hepatitis;
Humans;
Incidence;
Medical Records;
Mycoplasma pneumoniae;
Mycoplasma*;
Neurologic Manifestations;
Pneumonia;
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*;
Prevalence;
Respiratory Tract Infections*;
Seasons;
Skin
- From:Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease
2015;3(5):346-351
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common intracellular bacterial pathogen and plays an important role in acute respiratory infections. The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical presentations of C. pneumoniae in children with acute respiratory infections. METHODS: We examined the medical records of pediatric patients (age<18 years) admitted with acute respiratory infections of C. pneumoniae to Gachon University Gil Medical Center between March 1, 2011 and August 31, 2014. We compared the clinical features of C. pneumoniae infection with that of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. RESULTS: We confirmed acute respiratory infections of C. pneumoniae in 110 patients out of 2,156 patients (5.1%) admitted with acute respiratory infections. The mean age was 37.2+/-30.1 months. More than half of them (54.5%) had coinfection. C. pneumoniae infection had mild and subacute courses. The mean duration of symptoms prior to admission was 8.5+/-13.8 days. There were remarkable seasonal variations and prevalence was higher in December and April (P=0.03 and P=0.02, respectively). Although rhinorrhea and pharyngeal injection were more common in C. pneumoniae infection (P<0.05), clinical signs and symptoms were similar between C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae. Extrapulmonary manifestations such as skin lesion, Gastrointestinal symptoms, hepatitis, and neurologic symptoms were common (41.0%) in C. pneumoniae infection and, had similar incidence in M. pneumoniae infection. CONCLUSION: C. pneumoniae is an important infectious agent of acute respiratory infections in children. Clinical pictures of C. pneumoniae are similar to M. pneumoniae, even in extrapulmonary manifestations. C. pneumoniae should be taken into consideration in differential diagnosis of acute respiratory infection in children.
