An association of Mycoplasma pneumonia with lung function and laboratory parameters

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is a significant pathogen causing community-acquired pneumonia in children aged 5 years and older. While numerous studies have demonstrated that M. pneumoniae infection can impair lung function, the dynamic changes in lung function following M. pneumoniae infection remain poorly understood. This study aimed to observe the dynamic changes in lung function after M. pneumoniae infection in children. Children with M. pneumoniae infection and healthy volunteers were recruited from Nanjing Gaochun People’s Hospital between February 2022 and January 2023. The M. pneumoniae-infected children were followed up for one year, with lung function assessed at admission, discharge, and at the 4th, 8th, and 12th months post-discharge. M. pneumoniae infection was found to be associated with lung function, which gradually recovered over time. Several factors were found to be associated with lung function, including lymphocyte count, albumin, prealbumin, carbon dioxide levels, A/G ratio, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B. M. pneumoniae infection is indeed associated with pulmonary function in children.