Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumonia infection in children respiratory diseases

Aim: To evaluate the frequency of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumonia infection in children of different ages with bronchopulmonary disease. Methods: The study was performed on 900 children with bronchitis, pneumonia (3 months-18 years) hospitalized in the pulmonology department(2019-2020). Immunological examination for the presence of IgM, IgG antibodies(Ab) to Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumonia was performed by ELISA with the assessment of the confidence interval and statistical significance. Results: Out of 499 children, acute Chlamydia pneumoniae infection was found by Ab IgM in 54 children (10.8%:95% CI 8.3-14) with a mean titer of 0.69±0.04.Latent Chlamydia pneumoniae infection by IgG Ab was confirmed in 44 children out of 513 (8.6%:95% CI 6.4-11.4), diagnostic titer 0.64±0.03. Frequency in infants-2.8%, 1-3 years old - 8.6%, in preschool children-19%, in school children - 27.1%,χ2=42.1,p<0.001. Acute Mycoplasma pneumonia infection was identified by IgM Ab in 103 children out of 567 (18.2%:95% CI 15.1-21.6) with a titer of 0.94±0.06. Frequency in infants-7.9%, 1-3years - 10.5%, 3-7years-31.5%, in schoolchildren-40%, χ2=58.9,p<0.001. The post-infectious memory IgG Mycoplasma pneumonia was found in 105 children out of 602 (17.4%: 95% CI14.5-20.8) with a titer of 0.83±0.04. Frequency of detection of IgG Ab in infants-6.6%, in children 1-3 years old-13.4%, in children aged 3-7 years old-22.5%, in schoolchildren - 39.2%, χ2=51,2,p<0.001. Conclusion:The frequent persistence of Mycoplasma and Chlamydia infections in children, especially schoolchildren, requires empirical therapeutic approaches with the use of macrolide antibiotics.