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SEVERE MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIA IN PREVIOUSLY HEALTHY CHILDREN
Author(s) -
Hutchison Arlene A.,
Landau L. I.,
Phelan P. D.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1981.tb135381.x
Subject(s) - lethargy , mycoplasma pneumoniae , medicine , pneumonia , mycoplasma , respiratory distress , pleural effusion , atypical pneumonia , mycoplasma pneumonia , pediatrics , productive cough , lung , surgery , genetics , biology
Mycoplasma pneumonia usually follows a benign course and the patient does not require hospitalization. The present report summarizes the features of eight children admitted for a moderately severe pneumonia during an epidemic of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Victoria. All children were previously healthy. The usual presenting symptoms included cough, fever, lethargy, and weight loss. All children had moderately severe respiratory distress and physical signs in the chest consistent with extensive parenchymal involvement. Half of this group had radiological evidence of a small pleural effusion. Complement fixation titres for Mycoplasma pneumoniae in paired samples confirmed the diagnosis. Clinical and radiological resolution was complete after one to three months. It is suggested that severe mycoplasma pneumonia may be more common than previously appreciated.