Related Experiment Videos

Prevalence of Mycoplasma IgM in children with lower respiratory tract illness

Masamune Higashigawa1, Yukako Kawasaki, Noriko Yodoya

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Yamada Red-Cross Hospital, Takabuku, Ise, Mie, Japan. higashigawa@hotmail.com

Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|May 8, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections are common in young children in Japan. This study found nearly 20% of children under five with respiratory infections tested positive for M. pneumoniae.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Limited recent data exists on Mycoplasma infections in Japanese children.
  • Understanding the prevalence of Mycoplasma infections is crucial for pediatric respiratory health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of Mycoplasma infections in children in Japan.
  • To identify recent occurrence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of hospitalized children (0-15 years) with lower respiratory tract infections from January 2004 to June 2007.
  • Used Meridian ImmunoCard Mycoplasma test to detect IgM antibodies to M. pneumoniae.
  • Enrolled 858 patients diagnosed with acute pneumonia or bronchitis.

Main Results:

  • Overall, 23.9% (205/858) of hospitalized children tested positive for M. pneumoniae IgM antibodies.
  • Prevalence was higher in younger children, with 19.7% (143/727) of those under 5 years testing positive.
  • M. pneumoniae infections were identified in both pneumonia and bronchitis cases.

Conclusions:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is a significant cause of respiratory illness in young children in Japan.
  • The findings highlight the need for awareness and diagnostic consideration of M. pneumoniae in pediatric respiratory infections.
  • M. pneumoniae infection is not rare in children aged <5 years in Japan.

Related Concept Videos

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...