The prevalence of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)
pneumonia is increasing. The present study aimed to identify the predictive factors of responses to treatment of MP
pneumonia in children. A total of 149 children were diagnosed with MP
pneumonia, of whom 56 were included in the good response group, 75 children in the slow response group, and 18 children in no response or progression group. Data on the clinical, laboratory, and radiologic features were retrospectively obtained through medical chart reviews. The severity of
pneumonia, based on the extent of pneumonic lesions on chest x-ray (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 10.573; 95% confidence intervals (CIs), 2.303-48.543), and
lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (aOR, 1.002; 95% CIs, 1.000-1.004) at the time of admission were associated with slow response to treatment of MP
pneumonia.
Pleural effusion (aOR, 5.127; 95% CIs, 1.404-18.727), respiratory virus
co-infection (aOR, 4.354; 95% CIs, 1.374-13.800), and higher LDH levels (aOR, 1.005; 95% CIs, 1.002-1.007) as well as MP-specific
IgM titer (aOR, 1.309; 95% CIs, 1.095-1.564) were associated with no response or progression of MP
pneumonia. The area under the curve for the prediction of no or poor response in MP
pneumonia using
pleural effusion, respiratory virus
co-infection, LDH levels, and MP-specific
IgM titer at the time of admission was 0.8547. This study identified the predictive factors of responses to treatment of MP
pneumonia in children, which would be helpful in establishing a therapeutic plan and predicting the
clinical course of MP
pneumonia in children.