Related Experiment Videos
Insights
Legionella pneumophila infections in children, often presenting as pneumonia or bronchitis, can be diagnosed using serological tests. Early detection is key, as the illness typically does not present as a wasting disease in immunocompetent children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Legionella pneumophila is a recognized cause of pneumonia in adults.
- Data on Legionella pneumophila infections in children is limited.
- Respiratory infections in children often have diverse etiologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of Legionella pneumophila infections in pediatric respiratory illnesses.
- To evaluate the utility of serological testing for Legionella pneumophila in children.
- To describe the clinical presentation and laboratory findings of Legionnaires' disease in children.
Main Methods:
- Bacteriological, virological, and indirect fluorescence tests were performed on children with pneumonia or protracted bronchitis.
- Serological testing for Legionella pneumophila antibodies was conducted.
- Clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Legionella pneumophila infection was confirmed in three children (serotypes 1 and 5).
- Seven children showed high antibody titers to Legionella pneumophila serotype 1, suggesting early exposure.
- Infection presented with fever, leukocytosis, and elevated sedimentation rate, but was not a wasting illness.
Conclusions:
- Legionella pneumophila can cause sporadic respiratory infections in children.
- Serological examination for Legionella pneumophila should be a routine diagnostic procedure for pediatric respiratory diseases.
- Legionnaires' disease in immunocompetent children does not typically manifest as a severe wasting illness.
Abstract:
During the first nine months of 1987, the bacteriological and virological tests as well as the indirect fluorescence test to Legionella pneumophila were performed in 40 children with bronchopneumonia (one- or both-sided) or pleuropneumonia and in 10 children with protracted bronchitis. In a 15 month old boy we have proved (by titer dynamics) the infection with Legionella pneumophila serotype 5, and in a 15 month old girl and in a 16 month old boy serotype 1. The infection was sporadic and the possible source of infection was unknown. The course of the disease was not wasting and the infection was accompanied with fever. The patients had an increased sedimentation rate of red cells and leukocytosis. All the other laboratory findings were within normal limits. In seven children seropositiveness 1:256 to Legionella pneumophila serotype 1, and in two children an increased titer to adenovirus was proved. The high titer to Legionella pneumophila in those seven children indicates an early contact with the causal agent. The patients were successfully treated with cefuroxim, which is not the drug of choice. Infection due to Legionella pneumophila in children does not exhibit a clinical or laboratory characteristic features that differ from those of the other respiratory diseases in children. It means that Legionnaires' disease in children with intact immunity is not the wasting illness. We stress the importance of using serologic examination to Legionella pneumophila as a routine procedure in the aetiological diagnosis of respiratory diseases in children.