Clinical characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia with different imaging changes in children

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) with different imaging changes in children. Methods Hospitalized patients with MPP during September 2012 to August 2013 in Beijing New Century Children′s Hospital were retrospectively reviewed.The data including clinical features, laboratory tests, treatment and prognosis were collected.The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the radiological findings, including interstitial infiltration (group 1), intralobular infiltration (group 2) and segmental or larger infiltration (group 3). The clinical data were compared among the 3 groups. Results The percentages of patients in the 3 groups were 18.8% (36/191 cases) in group 1, 39.8% (76/19 cases) in group 2 and 41.4% (79/191 cases) in group 3, respectively.In 144 cases of MPP patients older than 3 years old, 48.6%(70/144 cases) were segmental or larger infiltration.The incidence of higher fever, hypoxemia and elevated C-reaction protein and lactate dehydrogenase in group 3 [50.6%(40/79 cases), 87.3%(69/79 cases), 78.5%(62/79 cases), 29.1%(23/79 cases)] were higher than those in group 1 [5.6%(2/36 cases), 61.1%(22/36 cases), 19.4%(7/36 cases), 0] and group 2 [10.5%(8/76 cases), 67.1%(51/76 cases), 14.5%(11/76 cases), 3.9%(3/76 cases)], and the differences were significant(all P 0.05). Patients in group 1 with wheeze were more co-mmon, and were treated by Azithromycin earlier than that in group 3[(5.08±3.43) d vs.(4.16±2.20) d], the difference was significant(t=2.498, P=0.014), while the incidence of hypoxemia was common than that in group 2(χ2=3.176, P=0.012). Conclusions MPP patients with segmental or larger infiltration are older than patients in the other groups, and present with severe complications, higher inflammatory factors, longer hospital stay, and higher risk for refractory MPP.Glucocorticoids and bronchoalveolar lavage are usually used in these patients.Patients with interstitial infiltration are prone to manifest with wheeze and hypoxemia, and its diagnosis and treatment by Azithromycin are usually delayed.Therefore, pediatrician should pay more attention to MPP patients with different imaging changes, in order to diagnose and treat the patients timely. Key words: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia; Imaging; Clinical characteristics; Child