BackgroundMycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is one of the most common childhood community-acquired pneumonias, and the chest radiograph usually shows bronchial pneumonia, segmental/lobar pneumonia, or segmental/lobar pneumonia with pleural effusion. The imbalance of Th1/Th2 function after Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is an important immunological mechanism of MPP. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the correlations between Th1/Th2 cytokine profiles and chest radiographic manifestations in MPP children.Patients and methodsA total of 87 children with MPP were retrospectively reviewed in this study. According to the chest radiographic manifestations, they were divided into the following three groups: bronchial MPP group, segmental/lobar MPP group, and segmental/lobar MPP with pleural effusion group. Clinical features and changes in Th1/Th2 cytokines were further analyzed.ResultsThe incidence of tachypnea and cyanosis was higher in children with segmental/lobar MPP with pleural effusion than in those with segmental/lobar or bronchial MPP. The peak body temperature of segmental/lobar MPP was higher than that of bronchial MPP, and the duration of fever and hospitalization was positively correlated with the severity of MPP. MPP children’s chest radiograph showed a relationship with the changes in Th1/Th2 cytokines. Serum interleukin-4, interleukin-10 (IL-10), interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) of segmental/lobar MPP were significantly higher than those of bronchial MPP, and serum IL-10 (cutoff value: 27.25 pg/mL) can be used as a diagnostic predictor for segmental/lobar MPP. Serum TNF-α and interleukin-6 of segmental/lobar MPP with pleural effusion were significantly higher than those of segmental/lobar MPP without pleural effusion. Serum TNF-α (cutoff value: 60.25 pg/mL) can be used as a diagnostic predictor for segmental/lobar MPP with pleural effusion.ConclusionThere were significant correlations between Th1/Th2 cytokine profiles and chest radiographic manifestations in MPP children. Serum IL-10 and TNF-α can be used as an optimal predictor for segmental/lobar MPP and segmental/lobar MPP with pleural effusion, respectively.

Objectives The impact of atopy on disease severity and extrapulmonary manifestations in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) pneumonia is unknown. Methods Patients diagnosed with MP pneumonia between January 2016, and December 2017, were enrolled in this study. A total of 150 MP pneumonia patients were enrolled at diagnosis and divided into the atopic group (n = 48) and the nonatopic group (n = 102). Furthermore, these patients were also assessed after being divided into the pulmonary group (n = 120) and the extrapulmonary group (n = 30). Clinical characteristics, respiratory disease severity, any allergy history, and specific allergen sensitizations were collected from all patients. The serum interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) and total immunoglobulin E (lgE) levels were also measured. Results More children in the atopic group than those in the nonatopic group presented with severe MP pneumonia, tachypnea, oxygen therapy, steroid treatment, atopic conditions including asthma attack, a previous history of asthma, decreased IL‐17 levels, and increased IgE levels (all P < 0.05). When compared with those in the pulmonary group, the patients in the extrapulmonary group showed higher percentages of atopy, higher total lgE levels, and lower IL‐17 levels (all P < 0.05). Conclusions Atopy may be a risk factor for disease severity and extrapulmonary manifestations in children with MP pneumonia.

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As previous study showed that Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) induced a cellular immune response associated with interleukin-17 (IL-17), we designed this study to explore IL-17 in MP pneumonia patients with atopic sensitization and 144 patients were evaluated and divided into three groups: atopic MP pneumonia group (n = 38), non-atopic MP pneumonia group (n = 74), and atopic non-MP pneumonia group (n = 32). Serum IL-17 was measured at admission acute phase and at recovery phase. We found IL-17 levels only in the atopic MP pneumonia group that were significantly higher at recovery phase than at acute phase, and its levels were also higher in the atopic MP pneumonia group than the other two groups at clinical recovery phase. In addition, acute asthma attack was higher in the atopic MP pneumonia group. Therefore, IL-17 should be related with asthma and it can be a good marker warning an acute asthma attack in atopic MP pneumonia. Necessary measures can be taken as prevention.

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is a common community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children, which may become refractory MPP (RMPP) to treatment. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of measuring serum interleukin (IL)-17A to predict RMPP. Patients and Methods: A retrospective clinical study at a single pediatric center included a review of the medical records of all children hospitalized for CAP between November 2015 and October 2019. The diagnosis of MPP was based on clinical presentation, chest radiography, and measurement of serum anti-Mycoplasma immunoglobulin IgM antibody titer using the microparticle agglutination method or sputum samples for Mycoplasma pneumoniae by PCR. Serum levels of IL-18 and IL-17A were determined by ELISA. Results: Of the 625 children diagnosed with CAP, there were 154 children with MPP and without underlying diseases who were divided into a non-refractory MPP (NRMPP) group (n = 109) and a RMPP group (n = 45). The RMPP group had a higher incidence of tachypnea, cyanosis, hypoxia, segmental or lobar pneumonia, pleural effusion, and a longer period of hospitalization compared with NRMPP group (all P-values < 0.05). A serum IL-17A level above 10.8 pg/mL was a predictor for RMPP: area under the curve (AUC) 0.822; standard error (SE) 0.039; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.746-0.897; diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 77.8% and 77.1%, respectively. An LDH level above 436.5 IU/L and an IL-18 level above 464.5 pg/mL were the second most useful markers for RMPP: AUC 0.

Rationale: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdomen in children, yet it is difficult to diagnose in young children because its clinical manifestations may be atypical. Here, 3 atypical clinical cases associated with appendicitis in children are reported. Patient concern: The 1st case corresponds to a 5-year-old male patient who presented with abdominal discomfort, intermittent fevers, and vomiting, have increased white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP). The second case is a 7-year-old male patient who began with intermittent fevers and lower quadrant abdominal pain, showing increased WBC count and CRP. The 3rd case corresponds to a 7-year-old female patient who presented with intermittent fevers, abdominal pain, and forebreast discomfort, demonstrating increased WBC count and CRP. Diagnoses: Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan presented data suggestive of enlarged appendix in diameter, and stercolith, corroborated through surgery. Intervention: Two patients were treated by appendectomy, and 1 patient was treated conservatively with antibiotics. Outcomes: Three patients were treated successfully. At 3-month follow-up, the patients had no complaints of discomfort with no relapse of appendicitis. Lessons: Due to atypical symptoms of children, the diagnosis of appendicitis is often delayed, suggesting that the clinicians should be aware of this disease when encountering gastroenteritis patients with elevated WBC and CRP. Furthermore, abdominal CT scan should be taken into consideration when patients showed high level of WBC and CRP, whose appendix is not seen on ultrasound.