Clinical characteristics of respiratory viral coinfection in pediatric Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

Abstract

Purpose: Bacterial/ viral coinfection is not uncommon in children with community acquired pneumonia. However, the data about viral coinfection in Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and clinical characteristics of respiratory viral coinfection in pediatric M. pneumoniae pneumonia. Methods: A retrospective cross sectional study was performed in 432 children hospitalized with M. pneumoniae pneumonia in a tertiary teaching hospital between June 2015 and May 2016. Results: One hundred forty patients (32.4%) were coinfected with M. pneumoniae and respiratory viruses. Among coinfected viruses, rhinovirus (44.4%) was most commonly detected. Viral coinfection was more likely to occur under the age of 5 years in winter and spring. As compared with patients infected with M. pneumoniae monoinfection, patients coinfected with respiratory viruses showed a lower mean age and shorter total febrile days. Although total leukocyte count was higher, relative proportion of neutrophils and C-reactive protein level were significantly lower in these patients. Conclusion: Viral coinfection was common in pediatric M. pneumoniae pneumonia, especially in patients under the age of 5 years, and this was associated with shorter total febrile days and lower level of acute phase response as compared with M. pneumoniae monoinfection.