MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIAE

Abstract

M. pneumoniae is a common cause of respiratory tract infection in children. Although mild upper respiratory illness is noted frequently as the only manifestation of M. pneumoniae infection, this agent is responsible for 10 to 20% of all cases of pneumonia. Severe disease with mucocutaneous, neurologic, gastro-intestinal, cardiac and hematologic manifestations may occur. Diagnosis is based on demonstrating a fourfold rise in antibody titer to M. pneumoniae, although high single titer or a high titer of cold hemagglutinins usually indicates recent infection. The drug of choice in pneumonia due to M. pneumoniae is erythromycine or one of the recently developed other macrolides.