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Asymptomatic Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infections in Children During a Mycoplasma Outbreak

Minna Honkila1,2, Ville Lindholm1,2, Anna-Karoliina Ojala2

  • 1Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|March 18, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mycoplasma pneumoniae was rarely detected in asymptomatic children during an outbreak. Multiplex PCR shows promise for diagnosing acute mycoplasma infections, but findings may not apply to all age groups.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Respiratory Pathogen Detection
  • Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of respiratory illness in children.
  • Understanding M. pneumoniae prevalence in asymptomatic individuals is crucial for outbreak management.
  • Accurate diagnostic methods are needed to differentiate M. pneumoniae infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the occurrence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in asymptomatic children during a respiratory pathogen outbreak.
  • To evaluate the utility of multiplex PCR for detecting M. pneumoniae in different pediatric populations.
  • To assess coinfection rates with picornaviruses in symptomatic and asymptomatic children.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective recruitment of symptomatic and asymptomatic children under 18 years.
  • Collection of nasopharyngeal swab samples for analysis.
  • Utilized a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panel to detect respiratory pathogens, including M. pneumoniae and picornaviruses.

Main Results:

  • M. pneumoniae was detected in 25% of symptomatic children but in 0% of asymptomatic children (p < 0.001).
  • Picornavirus positivity was observed in 26% of symptomatic and 14% of asymptomatic children (p = 0.052).
  • The study included 183 symptomatic and 61 asymptomatic children.

Conclusions:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae detections were infrequent in asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic children during the outbreak.
  • Multiplex PCR on nasopharyngeal swabs appears to be a specific diagnostic tool for acute M. pneumoniae infections.
  • The generalizability of findings to school-aged children is limited.
Keywords:
asymptomatic infectioncarriagechildrenepidemicmycoplasma

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