BACKGROUND: The importance of Chlamydia pneumoniae respiratory tract infection in childhood is under discussion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 798 hospitalized children with respiratory tract diseases were prospectively studied during a 2-year period by polymerase chain reaction and enzyme immunoassay (PCR-EIA) detection from throat swabs. Paired serum samples were used to screen for Chlamydia antibodies. RESULTS: C. pneumoniae was detected by PCR-EIA in 74 children. Prevalence was 11% in lower and 4% in upper respiratory tract disease (p = 0.049) without age dependency. From November to February prevalence was elevated (42/277 vs. 32/521; p < 0.001). Using serology, prevalence of acute Chlamydia infection increased with age (p < 0.001) and the number of coinfections (p < 0.001), without seasonal variation. CONCLUSION: Characteristics of C. pneumoniae carriage in the respiratory tract in childhood differ from those in systemic infection.
BACKGROUND: The importance of Chlamydia pneumoniae respiratory tract infection in childhood is under discussion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 798 hospitalized children with respiratory tract diseases were prospectively studied during a 2-year period by polymerase chain reaction and enzyme immunoassay (PCR-EIA) detection from throat swabs. Paired serum samples were used to screen for Chlamydia antibodies. RESULTS:C. pneumoniae was detected by PCR-EIA in 74 children. Prevalence was 11% in lower and 4% in upper respiratory tract disease (p = 0.049) without age dependency. From November to February prevalence was elevated (42/277 vs. 32/521; p < 0.001). Using serology, prevalence of acute Chlamydia infection increased with age (p < 0.001) and the number of coinfections (p < 0.001), without seasonal variation. CONCLUSION: Characteristics of C. pneumoniae carriage in the respiratory tract in childhood differ from those in systemic infection.
Authors: Juana Del Valle-Mendoza; Fiorella Orellana-Peralta; Alvaro Marcelo-Rodríguez; Eduardo Verne; Mónica Esquivel-Vizcarra; Wilmer Silva-Caso; Miguel Angel Aguilar-Luis; Pablo Weilg; Verónica Casabona-Oré; Claudia Ugarte; Luis J Del Valle Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-01-27 Impact factor: 3.240