EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICAL PATTERN OF MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIA IN CHILDREN HOSPITALISED WITH COMMUNITY ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA

OBJECTIVE: To identify the proportion and clinical pattern of mycoplasma pneumonia among children hospitalised with community acquired pneumonia. METHODS: Study design – descriptive cohort. Children between 2 months to 12 years of age who were hospitalised with symptoms suggestive of community acquired pneumonia were included. Children with community acquired pneumonia whose induced sputum grew mycoplasma in culture were dened as having mycoplasma pneumonia. RESULTS: Among the 268 children included in the study, mycoplasma pneumonia was positive in 33(12.3%) cases. Presenting features like fever (P=0.451), fast breathing (P=0.057), lower chest indrawing (P=0.086) and wheeze (P=0.780) were comparable between the two groups. Signicant cough (P=0.008), crepitations (P=0.024) and hypoxia (P=0.036) were more common in children with non mycoplasma pneumonia. There was no difference in length of stay between Mp patients who did and did not receive an antibiotic with activity against Mp (P=0.680). All mycoplasma positive cases clinically improved and the outcome (ICU admission or invasive mechanical ventilation) was comparable between the two groups (p 0.514). CONCLUSIONS: No clinical or radiological features were characteristic of mycoplasma pneumonia.Clinical course was not altered by use of macrolides.