[Increased occurrence of mycoplasmal pneumonia: radiologic appearance and observation of the development of the disease in children (author's transl)].

The epidemic occurrence of mycoplasmal pneumonia in children was reported. It composed 8% of all cases of pneumonia during 1975 occurring in the area served by the University Pediatric Hospital in Giessen. It should be noted that the cases were distributed throughout the year and that one fourth of the patients were small children. The diversity of the radiologic appearance with primarily interstitial-alveolar lesions in the lungs was explained in more detail. Observations of the course of the disease indicate that the illness can be recurrent; the course can be complicated as a result of immunosuppression through a primary illness which is already present, in this case an acute lymphoblastic leukemia.