Abstract

Studies on Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection are scarce in Chile. Objective: To describe clinical characteristics associated with M. pneumoniae in children requiring hospitalization. Material and Methods: All children with a respiratory infection requiring hospitalizations between 2000-2005, whom had a M. pneumoniae specific IgM ? 1:32, were analyzed. Results: Fifty children meeting study criteria were identified with an ave-rage length of hospitalization of 4 days (range: 1-10); mean age was 5.4 years (46% were younger than 5 years). Common clinical features were cough (92%), fever (82%), malaise (74%) and respiratory distress (72%). At admission 40/45 children had hypoxemia. Chest-X ray showed interstitial pattern (69.3%), consolidation (51%) and hyperinsuflation (28.5%). Six patients had pleural effusion. Eighty four percent of patients had a favorable clinical outcome; eight children required admission to the PICU all of whom recovered. Conclusion: Respiratory infections associated with M. pneumoniae in our series of children had a highly variable and non-specific clinical spectrum. Chest-X rays showed different pattern in concordance with previous publications.