CHLAMYDIA-PNEUMONIAE IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE RESPIRATORY-TRACT INFECTIONS

Children seeking medical attention for acute respiratory tract infecti ons were investigated for evidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. Blood samples were obtained from 367 children. Nasopharyngeal or throa t swabs for PCR analysis (polymerase chain reaction) were taken from 3 60 children. Serology was found to be useful for diagnosis of infectio n only in children aged > 5 y. Using PCR, a prevalence of 8 and 10% of C. pneumoniae was found in male and female children aged < 2 y; 17 an d 19%, respectively, in the age group 2-4 y and 32 and 21%, respective ly, in the age group 5-16 y. We conclude that Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common finding in young children with respiratory tract infections. Younger children were more often found to have a moderate disease, but may have been ill for a long period.