[Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in childhood respiratory pathology. Respiratory, extrarespiratory manifestations and immunological findings. A 2-year study].

"Mycoplasma pneumoniae" respiratory infection was diagnosed by completed fixation assay in 81 ages 8 months to 14 years. Seventy had pneumonia and ten had bronchitis. The "Mycoplasma pneumoniae" represented the 25% of all pneumonia of any aetiology. Seventy per cent of cases occurred during spring and summer months. Rashes developed in 13 (16%) patients (maculo-papular, 6; Stevents-Johnson, 2; purpuric-acular, 2; petechial, 1; urticarial, 1; erythema nodosa, 1). Other nonrespiratory complications were: hemolytic anemia, 2 cases; hepatitis, 5 cases; aseptic meningitis, 2 cases, and Guillain-Barré syndrome, 1 case. The white blood cell counts and ESR were normal or slightly raised in most of patients. Serum samples from 46 children were tested for cold agglutinins and positive titers were found in 19 (41%). The roentgenographic pattern of "Mycoplasma pneumoniae" was alveolar and/or mixed in 57 patients, and interstitial in the remainder. The lower lobes were more frequently involved. Twenty one per cent of patients with pneumonia had mediastinal lymphadenopathy. The outcome was favorable in all children except in one who developed irreversible pulmonary damage.