An Epidemiological Study of Mycoplasmal penumoniae Pneumonia in Children from 1995 to 2004 in a Tertiary Hospital in Seoul / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the major cause of respiratory infections in school- aged children and young adults. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological features of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in Korean children, between 1995 and 2003. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical record of 575 patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia. In patients with pneumonia who visited Samsung Medical Center from January 1995 to December 2003, M. pneumoniae infection was confirmed by mycoplasma antibody titer > 1 320 or four-fold increase. We analyzed age and sex distribution, monthly and annual epidemics, and mixed infection with respiratory viruses. RESULTS: The mean age was 4.49+/-2.80 years (range 0-16 years). There were 281 females and 294 males. The peak incidence was at 4 years of age (17.6 percent) and there were 333 person from 3 to 6 years of age (57.2 percent). Infants younger than 2 years accounted for 23.8 percent. M. pneumoniae pneumonia occurred mostly from September to December (64.8 percent) ; in November (18.1 percent), in December (16.2 percent), and in October (16.0 percent). Annual incidences were 9.6 percent in 1997 and 10.9 percent in 2000, 18.7 percent in 2003, respectively, while much lower incidences were noted in the other years. Seven cases showed mixed infection with respiratory viruses; adenovirus (n=3), RSV (n=2), Influenza virus (n=1), parainfluenza virus type 2 (n=1). CONCLUSION: In Seoul, Korea, epidemic outbreaks of M. pneumoniae pneumonia occurred every three years with peak incidences in the fall. These epidemiological data will be helpful for the prediction of occurrences of M. pneumoniae infection.