Diagnosis of Chlamydia pneumoniae in community-acquired pneumonia in children in Chile
- Resource Type
- Authors
- P Rojas; R Kogan; MA Martínez Tagle; L Rubilar; Roberto Vidal; E Paya
- Source
- Acta Paediatrica. 89:650-653
- Subject
- education.field_of_study
medicine.medical_specialty
Chlamydia
business.industry
Incidence (epidemiology)
Respiratory disease
Population
General Medicine
medicine.disease
respiratory tract diseases
Serology
Pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia
Internal medicine
Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
Immunology
medicine
Etiology
business
education
- Language
- ISSN
- 0803-5253
The incidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in community-acquired pneumonia in children was studied prospectively in 112 children aged 1 mo to 14 y. Diagnosis of C. pneumoniae was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on nasopharyngeal aspirates and serology by the microimmunofluorescence test on a single serum specimen. Three (2.7%) cases of pneumonia due to this agent were diagnosed by both PCR and serology. C. pneumoniae was not found in any of 62 children below 5 y of age. In the age group 5–8 y only 1/30 (3%) was found positive and in the age group 9–14 y C. pneumoniae was diagnosed in 2/20 (10%) children. Although the number of enrolled patients is small and the diagnostic techniques used may have some limitations the results of this study suggest that C. pneumoniae plays a minor role in the aetiology of pneumonia in children less than 9 y of age in our country. However it should be considered as a potential agent in pneumonia in older children. (authors)