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Young Malaysian children with lower respiratory tract infections show low incidence of chlamydial infection |
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| Authors: | YF NGEOW AF WEIL NS KHAIRULLAH MY MOHD YUSOF L LUAM C GAYDOS TC QUINN |
| Affiliation: | Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;Department of Paediatrics, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America |
| Abstract: | Objective: The incidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis infection was studied among infants and young children admitted to hospital for the management of lower respiratory tract infections, over a 12 month period. Methodology: Respiratory secretions were examined for chlamydiae by cell culture, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction-enzyme immunoassay. Sera were tested by micro-immunofluorescence for chlamydial IgG, IgM and IgA. Other bacterial and viral pathogens were also looked for by standard cultural and serological methods. Results: Of 87 patients aged 2 months-3 years, an aetiologic diagnosis was made in 41 (47.1%). C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis were each detected in 1 (1.2%) of the patients. Among common bacterial pathogens, Haemophilus influenzae (13.8%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (8.1%) were the most frequently identified. Respiratory viruses and elevated Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies were found in 10.3% and 9.1% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: Chlamydiae are infrequent causes of community-acquired acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants and very young children in Malaysia. |
| Keywords: | children chlamydia respiratory infection |