Mycoplasma pneumoniae incidence, phenotype, and severity in children and adolescents in Denmark before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide multicentre population-based cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections resurged globally in 2023-2024 after a three-year decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored the incidence and severity of M pneumoniae infections in children and adolescents before, during, and after the pandemic.

Methods

This nationwide, population-based cohort study included all Danish children and adolescents aged 0-17 years with a positive M pneumoniae PCR test from May 1, 2016, to April 30, 2024. We obtained clinical details for patients hospitalised for 24 h or more. Risk ratios for infections, hospitalisations, and disease manifestations in 2023-2024 versus pre-COVID-19 seasons were calculated using Fisher's exact and Pearson's χ² tests. A season was defined from May 1 to April 30.

SUBMITTER: Dungu KHS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11513821 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature