Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Mycoplasmapneumonia is a cause of community-acquired pneumonia. The disease usually is of a gradual onset, with almost equal gender distribution between male & female.
OBJECTIVE:
Assessment of the clinical, radiological & laboratory characteristics of mycoplasma pneumonia in Baghdad teaching hospital.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
30 patients were collected from Baghdad teaching hospital between 1st of November 2003 till 30th of October 2004 having pneumonia with positive cold agglutinin titer. They were studied regarding their clinical presentation & features including seasonal incidence, radiological assessment, & testing blood for cold agglutinin titer.
RESULTS:
The study showed almost equal gender distribution (14 patients were male & 16 patients were female), with ratio of male: female equal to 1:1.1.
The most common symptoms were dry cough76.7%, headache (6.77%) &fever(70%). Other symptoms are less frequent. Seasonal variation showing more incidence during spring time. Radiological finding showed patchy infiltration in 18 patient (60%), lobar consolidation in 7 patient (23.3%), & pleural effusion in 4patient (13.3%).
CONCLUSION:
There is almost equal gender distribution between male & female.
The most common symptom was dry cough, headache, while fever is more common in old age groups than other age groups.