[Mycoplasma sp. in the respiratory tract of hospitalized children]. / Investigación de Mycoplasma sp. en las vías respiratorias de niños hospitalizados.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the most common bacteria causing respiratory diseases in other countries, specially in older children, adolescents and young adults and less frequently in the age group studied here, nevertheless the determination of its presence in this group was considered important. Two hundred and fifty throat swabs were taken from children, under five years of age, hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute respiratory infections (ARI) and to 50 children, same age, with no ARI (controls). The samples were placed in transport media and were incubated at 37 degrees C during 7 to 15 days. They were reinoculated in PPLO agar and typical colonies were looked for, 5 to 8 days later. The organisms were identified by biochemical tests. Eight Mycoplasma sp (3.2%) were obtained, five of them were M. pneumoniae (2.0%) and three M. hominis (1.2%). Only in 2 cases adenoviruses with M. hominis were found in the absence of other pathogens. It was shown that M. pneumoniae also infects children under five years old, so its present should be suspected, specially when the patient's health does not improve with the installed treatment. Some important suggestions for the isolation of mycoplasma are given.

[Epidemiologic and etiologic study of acute respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age]. / Estudio epidemiológico y etiológico de las infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRA) en niños menores de cinco años.

This study also included epidemiologic data to determine the risk factors for the enhancement of these infections. The coagglutination technique for the rapid diagnosis of streptococcus was tried. Five hundred and thirty one samples of pharingeal swabs were obtained from children with ARI. 74% were younger than one year old. Brochopneumonias constituted 66.39% of the cases. In total 357 agents were isolated 35% corresponding to bacteria in pure culture, 23.3% to mixed infections and 11.6% only viruses. The bacteria were: Haemphilus influenza (12.4%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (11%), Staphylococcus aureus (9%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.3%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae was identified in 5 children and M. hominis in 3. Adenoviruses were isolated in 98 patients, parainfluenza in 19, respiratory syncytial virus in 4, influenza in 1 and picornavirus in 2. Predominating socioeconomic factors were: overcrowding, deficient schooling and low income of parents which favor malnutrition. The more frequent agents were constitutes by bacteria. Viruses were a less cause of infection. It was confirmed that babies under 12 months are more susceptible to bacterial pneumonia and prompt treatment with antimicrobial agents lowered the lethality. Low socioeconomic level is a possible predisposing factor for respiratory diseases.