A population based seroepidemiological survey of Chlamydia pneumoniae infections in schoolchildren
- 1Department of Public Medicine Sciences, UCO Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Trieste and IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy
- 2Department of Public Medicine Sciences, UCO Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Trieste and IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”
- 3Department of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, UCO Paediatric Clinic, University of Trieste and IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”
- 4Department of Medicine and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Correspondence to: Professor C Campello UCO Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Via dell’Istria 65/1, 34137 Trieste, Italy; campelloburlo.trieste.it
- Accepted 23 December 2004
Abstract
Aim: A serosurvey was carried out in schoolchildren from a northeastern area of Italy to define the burden of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection.
Methods: A sample of 649 schoolchildren underwent a simplified version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire and IgG and IgA antibodies were investigated using an enzyme immunoassay, followed by a microimmunofluorescence assay in reactive sera.
Results: Of the children examined, 29% and 19.7% had IgG and IgA antibodies, respectively. The IgG prevalence increased with age. No other sociodemographical variable was related to C pneumoniae infection. An association was established between IgA prevalence and previous otitis media.
Conclusions: A mesoendemic (intermediate between high and low endemic level) pattern of C pneumoniae infection is present in schoolchildren from this area and the prevalence rate is related to age. Moreover, this is the first epidemiological evidence of the role of C pneumoniae in otitis.
