A Study of Mycoplasmal Pneumonia developed around a Chunnam Coastal Area in 1993

1993년 전남의 한 해안지역에서 발생한 Mycoplasmal 폐렴에 대한 고찰

Mycoplasma pneumoniae(M. pneumoniae) is a primary pathogene of the respiratory tract in children. Most studies of such pneumonia involve a group of admitted patients in hospital, usually with major medical illness. We retrospectively studied the epidemiologic and clinical feature of 105 patients with serologically proven M. pneumoigic pneumonia treated at Gwang-Yang Hospital during a epidemic period of Jun. 1993 to Dec. 1993. All cases of pneumonia developed in this period were also reviewed and compared with serologically proven group. The results were as follows. 1. There were 63 males and 42 females, and the male /female ratio was 1.5 : 1. 2. More than half(57%) of cases belonged to 5-9 years of age group, and mean age was 6.5 years old. 3. Mean age was steadily decreased as prevalence of mycoplasmal pneumonia had been subsided. 4. The date of index case was June 26th, and that of median case was 3 months after the index case. 5. A major determinant of the outbreak seemed to be the population density rather than the population size. 6. Recurrence and serious complication were not observed in this period. 7. All cases of pneumonia developed in this period might be attributed to M. pnemoniae. These epidemiologic and clinical characteristics would contribute to the prevention and diagnosis of mycoplasmal pneumonia.