Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Manifestations in Hospitalized Children with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection
Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is one of the main causes of both upper and lower respiratory infections in school-aged children, accounting for up to 40% of community-acquired pneumonia. Younger children are also affected, and extrapulmonary manifestations have been recently reported in the pediatric po...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2553 |
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| author | Carlotta Biagi Alessandra Cavallo Alessandro Rocca Luca Pierantoni Davide Antonazzo Arianna Dondi Liliana Gabrielli Tiziana Lazzarotto Marcello Lanari |
| author_facet | Carlotta Biagi Alessandra Cavallo Alessandro Rocca Luca Pierantoni Davide Antonazzo Arianna Dondi Liliana Gabrielli Tiziana Lazzarotto Marcello Lanari |
| author_sort | Carlotta Biagi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is one of the main causes of both upper and lower respiratory infections in school-aged children, accounting for up to 40% of community-acquired pneumonia. Younger children are also affected, and extrapulmonary manifestations have been recently reported in the pediatric population. We carried out a retrospective analysis of MP-positive patients admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Unit of S. Orsola Malpighi University Hospital in Bologna, the largest tertiary pediatric referral center in the Emilia–Romagna region, Northern Italy, between 2012 and 2020. We identified 145 patients with MP infection (82 males and 63 females), 27% of which were younger than 2 years; the median age was 5 years (interquartile range 1–9). The clinical presentation partially differed between age groups. School-aged children were more likely to have a chest X-ray-confirmed pneumonia (<i>p</i> = 0.013), while younger children required oxygen therapy more often (<i>p</i> = 0.048). Seventy-four children (51%) showed extrapulmonary manifestations, mainly gastrointestinal (30%) and dermatological (14%). Neurological symptoms were more frequent in children older than 6 years (<i>p</i> = 0.006). The rate of other extrapulmonary manifestations did not differ significantly between age groups. This study shows that MP infection is a frequent cause of pediatric hospitalization, including of children younger than 2 years. Clinicians should be aware of the variable clinical expressions of MP, including extrapulmonary manifestations, to achieve a correct diagnosis and determine appropriate treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:31:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d96b768c8e4c4a3086b652a46158b66b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:31:45Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-d96b768c8e4c4a3086b652a46158b66b2023-11-23T09:39:43ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-12-01912255310.3390/microorganisms9122553Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Manifestations in Hospitalized Children with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae InfectionCarlotta Biagi0Alessandra Cavallo1Alessandro Rocca2Luca Pierantoni3Davide Antonazzo4Arianna Dondi5Liliana Gabrielli6Tiziana Lazzarotto7Marcello Lanari8Pediatric Emergency Unit, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS), Sant’Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, ItalySpecialty School of Pediatrics, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, ItalyPediatric Emergency Unit, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS), Sant’Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, ItalyPediatric Emergency Unit, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS), Sant’Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, ItalyPediatric Emergency Unit, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS), Sant’Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, ItalyPediatric Emergency Unit, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS), Sant’Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, ItalyMicrobiology Unit, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS), Sant’Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, ItalyMicrobiology Unit, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS), Sant’Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, ItalyPediatric Emergency Unit, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS), Sant’Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, ItalyMycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is one of the main causes of both upper and lower respiratory infections in school-aged children, accounting for up to 40% of community-acquired pneumonia. Younger children are also affected, and extrapulmonary manifestations have been recently reported in the pediatric population. We carried out a retrospective analysis of MP-positive patients admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Unit of S. Orsola Malpighi University Hospital in Bologna, the largest tertiary pediatric referral center in the Emilia–Romagna region, Northern Italy, between 2012 and 2020. We identified 145 patients with MP infection (82 males and 63 females), 27% of which were younger than 2 years; the median age was 5 years (interquartile range 1–9). The clinical presentation partially differed between age groups. School-aged children were more likely to have a chest X-ray-confirmed pneumonia (<i>p</i> = 0.013), while younger children required oxygen therapy more often (<i>p</i> = 0.048). Seventy-four children (51%) showed extrapulmonary manifestations, mainly gastrointestinal (30%) and dermatological (14%). Neurological symptoms were more frequent in children older than 6 years (<i>p</i> = 0.006). The rate of other extrapulmonary manifestations did not differ significantly between age groups. This study shows that MP infection is a frequent cause of pediatric hospitalization, including of children younger than 2 years. Clinicians should be aware of the variable clinical expressions of MP, including extrapulmonary manifestations, to achieve a correct diagnosis and determine appropriate treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2553Mycoplasma peumoniaechildreninfantspneumoniarespiratory tract infectionsextrapulmonary manifestations |
| spellingShingle | Carlotta Biagi Alessandra Cavallo Alessandro Rocca Luca Pierantoni Davide Antonazzo Arianna Dondi Liliana Gabrielli Tiziana Lazzarotto Marcello Lanari Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Manifestations in Hospitalized Children with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection Microorganisms Mycoplasma peumoniae children infants pneumonia respiratory tract infections extrapulmonary manifestations |
| title | Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Manifestations in Hospitalized Children with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection |
| title_full | Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Manifestations in Hospitalized Children with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection |
| title_fullStr | Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Manifestations in Hospitalized Children with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Manifestations in Hospitalized Children with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection |
| title_short | Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Manifestations in Hospitalized Children with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection |
| title_sort | pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations in hospitalized children with mycoplasma pneumoniae infection |
| topic | Mycoplasma peumoniae children infants pneumonia respiratory tract infections extrapulmonary manifestations |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2553 |
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