Mycoplasma pneumonia among children with acute respiratory infection

Abstract

Background: Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in children. Mycoplasma pneumonia remains the most common species causing ARI in school going children. IgM ELISA is considered as the single most appropriate test for diagnosis of acute mycoplasma pneumonia infection. Objectives of the study was to assess the proportion of mycoplasma pneumonia among children aged 2-12 years admitted with ARI using IgM ELISA kit.Methods: Study design included prospective descriptive study. Study carried out at Amala institute of medical sciences, Thrissur, Kerala, India. Study period from January 2019 to June 2020. Inclusion criteria included all children between age group 2-12 years admitted in paediatrics department with clinical features of ARI. Exclusion criteria excluded parents/patients who are not willing to participate in the study and patients who are known cases of reactive airway disease. A total of 124 children, aged 2-12 years with clinical features of ARI admitted during January 2019 to June 2020 were included in this study. This was to know the proportion of Mycoplasma pneumonia among these children using IgM ELISA test kit and to understand their clinical profile.Results: 71 were males. Mean age of children in the study group was 4.4±2.4. IgM ELISA was positive in 9 subjects (7.3%). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 50, 85, 40, 89.7 and 79.5% respectively.Conclusions: Prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumonia in our population based on IgM ELISA was 7.3%. Mycoplasma pneumonia IgM ELISA test is superior to cold agglutinin test.