The epidemiological pattern of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in Denmark over the 50-year period 1946-1995 is described. The study is based on blood specimens received at the central laboratory at Statens Serum Institut for titration of cold agglutinins (CA), initially for the diagnosis of CA positive primary atypical pneumonia, and during the 1960s of M. pneumoniae infection; in addition, specimens from the last 38 years were tested for antibodies specific to M. pneumoniae. By retrospective analysis of the test results compiled over the years it was found that intervals of regular periodicity have been interrupted by an era of changes in the pattern. Attention is paid to the significance of CA for this study, and the possible background of the epidemiological pattern is described.
The frequency of occurrence and etiology of respiratory disease during a 40-month period in a day care center is reported. The day care center had a maximum enrollment of 39 children ranging in age from 1 month to 5 years. Sick children were not excluded from the center. During the period of the study there was not an excessive amount of respiratory illness in the children in day care when compared with the reported illness occurrence in children receiving home care. In the total group there were 8.4 respiratory illnesses per child-year with the highest rate in infants under 1 year of age.
The agents responsible for the respiratory disease in the day care center were similar to those reported as significant in the community, and the patterns of virus isolation were similar to those in the community in age incidence, seasonal occurrence, and illness association. Respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus type 3 were the agents most often implicated in lower respiratory disease. Adenovirus types 2 and 5 frequently caused febrile upper respiratory illness in infants. The study suggests group day care is safe medically for infants and that exclusion of sick children is unnecessary in a day care program with adequate space and staffing.
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