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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.
Summary
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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