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Published on: February 15, 2013
Epidemic pneumonia in university students
1Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7220.
Abstract:
Longitudinal surveillance of pneumonia in a university student health service was conducted from 1965-1971 and 1984-1987. Of 104 pneumonia cases documented by chest x-ray, only six were presumed to have bacterial etiology; the remaining 98 were characteristic of atypical pneumonia syndrome. Mycoplasma pneumoniae was the etiology in 51% of the pneumonias in the 1960s and 13% in 1984-1987. Pneumonia incidence was highest in the fall semester in seven of 11 years studied. Annual incidence followed a three- to four-year periodicity. Both of these observations mirror the epidemiology of M. pneumoniae in the world population. Symptoms of cough, headache, malaise, and absence of the physical finding of wheezing were seen more consistently in M. pneumoniae pneumonia than in other atypical pneumonias; other clinical features varied among epidemics. Rapid cold agglutinin tests were positive in 27% of our clinically diagnosed pneumonias and in 36% of those with documented mycoplasmal infections. This study appears to provide a basis for predicting future epidemics of atypical pneumonia in student populations.
Insights
This study tracked pneumonia in university students, finding atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is common. Surveillance data can help predict future student pneumonia outbreaks.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Pneumonia surveillance in university settings is crucial for understanding respiratory illness trends.
- Atypical pneumonia, particularly Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a significant cause of illness in young adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a longitudinal surveillance of pneumonia cases in a university student health service.
- To identify the etiological agents, incidence patterns, and clinical features of pneumonia in students.
- To explore the potential for predicting future pneumonia epidemics in student populations.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal surveillance of pneumonia cases from 1965-1971 and 1984-1987.
- Chest x-rays to document pneumonia and differentiate etiology.
- Analysis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae incidence, seasonality, and periodicity.
- Clinical symptom assessment and cold agglutinin testing.
Main Results:
- Out of 104 pneumonia cases, 98 were atypical pneumonia syndrome.
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae was identified as the etiology in 51% of cases in the 1960s and 13% in 1984-1987.
- Pneumonia incidence peaked in the fall semester, with a 3-4 year periodicity, mirroring M. pneumoniae epidemiology.
- Specific symptoms like cough and headache were more common in M. pneumoniae cases.
Conclusions:
- Atypical pneumonia, frequently caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is prevalent in university students.
- Observed epidemiological patterns suggest predictability for M. pneumoniae infections.
- This surveillance data provides a foundation for forecasting future atypical pneumonia epidemics in student populations.
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