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. 2019 Jan:147:e192.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268819000839.

The epidemiology of paediatric Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in North China: 2006 to 2016

Li-Wei Gao  1 , Ju Yin  1 , Ying-Hui Hu  1 , Xiu-Yun Liu  1 , Xue-Li Feng  1 , Jian-Xin He  1 , Jun Liu  1 , Yan Guo  1 , Bao-Ping Xu  1 , Kun-Ling Shen  1
Affiliations

The epidemiology of paediatric Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in North China: 2006 to 2016

Li-Wei Gao et al. Epidemiol Infect. 2019 Jan.

Abstract

Paediatric Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia in China. Data on epidemiology of paediatric MPP from China are little known. This study retrospectively collected data from June 2006 to June 2016 in Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University of North China and aims to explore the epidemiological features of paediatric MPP and severe MPP (SMPP) in North China during the past 10 years. A total of 27 498 paediatric patients with pneumonia were enrolled. Among them, 37.5% of paediatric patients had MPP. In this area, an epidemic took place every 2-3 years at the peak, and the positive rate of MPP increased during these peak years over time. The peak age of MPP was between the ages of 6 and 10 years, accounting for 75.2%, significantly more compared with other age groups (χ2 = 1384.1, P < 0.0001). The epidemics peaked in September, October and November (χ2 = 904.9, P < 0.0001). Additionally, 13.0% of MPP paediatric patients were SMPP, but over time, the rate of SMPP increased, reaching 42.6% in 2016. The mean age of paediatric patients with SMPP (6.7 ± 3.0 years old) was younger than that of patients with non-SMPP (7.4 ± 3.2 years old) (t = 3.60, P = 0.0001). The prevalence of MPP and SMPP is common in China, especially in children from 6 to 10 years old. Paediatric patients with SMPP tend to be younger than those with non-SMPP. MPP outbreaks occur every 2-3 years in North China. September, October and November are the peak months, unlike in South China. Understanding the epidemiological characteristics of paediatric MPP can contribute to timely treatment and diagnosis, and may improve the prognosis of children with SMPP.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Mycoplasma; paediatrics; pneumonia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Distribution of children with MPP in different years.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Distribution of MPP patients with different age in different years and gender.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Prevalence of SMPP patients in different years.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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