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[Anti-pneumococcal immunity in extra-hospital acute pneumonia in children]
L A Vishniakova1, T S Sologub, S L Akimova
1State Research Centre of Pulmonology, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Insights
In children with acute pneumonia, all patients had Streptococcus pneumoniae antibodies, with immunity developing early. Antibiotic therapy suppressed antibody formation, especially in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of childhood pneumonia.
- Understanding the immune response to Streptococcus pneumoniae is crucial for effective treatment and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the humoral immune response to Streptococcus pneumoniae in children with acute pneumonia.
- To assess the impact of age, disease duration, and antibiotic therapy on antipneumococcal antibody levels.
Main Methods:
- Pulmonological examination of 134 children aged 1 month to 14 years.
- Indirect immunofluorescence test to detect antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- Analysis of antibody levels in relation to disease stage, age, and treatment.
Main Results:
- All patients exhibited antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae, indicating local humoral immunity dominance.
- Antipneumococcal antibody formation was rapid, occurring within the first week of illness.
- Children under 3 years showed less stable immunity, though some had high antibody levels.
- Early antibiotic therapy significantly suppressed antipneumococcal antibody development.
- Concomitant viral or mycoplasmic infections did not affect antipneumococcal antibody synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Children with acute pneumonia mount an early and robust humoral immune response to Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- Younger children (under 3 years) may have a less stable antipneumococcal immune response.
- Antibiotic therapy can interfere with the development of protective antipneumococcal immunity.
- Further research is needed to optimize treatment strategies balancing infection control and immune response.
Abstract:
The results of the pulmonological examination, carried out with the use of the indirect immunofluorescence test, of 134 children aged 1 month to 14 years in the course of acute pneumonia are presented. Antibodies to the surface components of Streptococcus pneumoniae cells were detected in the blood of all patients, local humoral immunity prevailing over systemic immunity at the acute period of the disease. Early and intensive formation of antipneumococcal antibodies was shown to occur during the first week of the disease. The lowest and least stable antipneumococcal immunity appeared in acute pneumonia in children during the first 3 years of life, though in one-fourth of these patients high antibody levels were observed. The early use of antibiotic therapy induced the pronounced suppression of the formation of these antibodies. Acute respiratory viral and mycoplasmic infections did not influence on the synthesis of antipneumococcal antibodies during acute pneumonia in children.