Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025
Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2014
Etiology of pediatric lower respiratory tract infections in South Korea
1Isaac Pediatric Clinic, Sejong, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Pediatric lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in South Korea show high bacterial prevalence. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are key pathogens, with co-infections being common in primary care settings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are a significant cause of mortality globally.
- Bacterial pneumonia is a leading cause of death in South Korea, yet pediatric LRTI epidemiology in primary care is understudied.
- Understanding pathogen prevalence is crucial for effective treatment and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical, radiological, and etiological characteristics of pediatric LRTIs in a South Korean primary care setting.
- To identify common bacterial pathogens and assess the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) on LRTI outcomes.
- To provide data on the epidemiology of pediatric LRTI for public health and clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1,497 pediatric LRTI cases from 2015-2016.
- Clinical data, radiological findings (X-ray), and pathogen detection via PCR were utilized.
- Analysis included a separate cohort of 1,837 children from a vaccine registry (2014-2016).
Main Results:
- Fever was present in 52% of cases; 15% of X-rayed cases showed pneumonia.
- Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae were the most frequently identified pathogens.
- Vaccinated cases showed varied pneumonia findings based on vaccine type, with differences in specific pathogen prevalence and co-infections.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric LRTIs in this primary care setting have a high rate of confirmed bacterial infections, with co-infections being common.
- Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are primary pathogens, with Mycoplasma pneumoniae also identified as a significant contributor.
- Vaccination status influences the spectrum of pathogens and pneumonia findings in pediatric LRTI cases.
Abstract:
Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are an important cause of death and bacterial pneumonia is one of the most common causes of mortality in South Korea, but there is little data evaluating the epidemiology of pediatric LRTI in primary care clinics. We evaluated 1,497 pediatric LRTI cases in a primary care clinic over a two-year period from 2015 to 16 for clinical and radiological signs combined with PCR for pathogen detection. In addition, a 1,837 vaccine cohort in the clinic from 2014 to 16 was analyzed separately. Fifty-two percent of cases presented with fever and 15% of 1,423 X-rayed cases had positive pneumonia findings with the grade of fever correlating positively with the proportion of cases with positive chest findings. Bacterial identification was possible for 1,376 cases with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae most common. A higher proportion of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccinated cases had positive pneumonia findings than 10-valent pneumococcal nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) vaccinated cases, although similar proportions for each PCV had confirmed bacterial infections. PHiD-CV vaccinated cases with positive pneumonia findings had proportionally more single S. pneumoniae infections but less co-infections and less cases with H. influenzae infection. The proportions of confirmed bacterial infections in LRTI cases observed in this pediatric primary care setting in South Korea is very high, with co-infections most common. S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae are the most common as expected but this data also highlights M. pneumoniae as an additional important cause of LRTI in primary pediatric care in Korea.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation
01:30Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
01:31Common Respiratory Disorders
Upper respiratory disorders impact the airways above the vocal cords, encompassing areas like the nose, sinuses, and throat. Various conditions fall under this category, including the common cold and allergic rhinitis. These disorders can stem from several causes,...
01:29Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:17Other Pulmonary Disorders