rss
Thorax 2009;64:507-511 doi:10.1136/thx.2008.111237
  • Respiratory infection

Impact of weather factors on Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

  1. D Onozuka1,
  2. M Hashizume2,
  3. A Hagihara3
  1. 1
    Department of Planning Information and Administration, Fukuoka Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences, Dazaifu-shi, Fukuoka, Japan
  2. 2
    Department of International Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki, Japan
  3. 3
    Department of Health Services Management and Policy, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medicine, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
  1. Dr D Onozuka, Department of Planning Information and Administration, Fukuoka Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences, 39 Mukaizano, Dazaifu-shi, Fukuoka 818-0135, Japan; onozuka{at}fihes.pref.fukuoka.jp
  • Received 16 November 2008
  • Accepted 12 March 2009
  • Published Online First 23 March 2009

Abstract

Background: Although multiple combinations of weather factors may contribute to an increased incidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, few studies have investigated the association between weather factors and cases of M pneumoniae pneumonia.

Methods: Data on cases of M pneumoniae pneumonia and weather factors in Fukuoka, Japan from 1999 to 2007 were obtained and time-series analysis was used to assess the effects of weather variables on M pneumoniae pneumonia cases, adjusting for confounding factors. A total of 13 056 M pneumoniae pneumonia cases were reported during the 9-year study period, of which 12 234 (93.7%) were under 15 years of age.

Results: The weekly number of M pneumoniae pneumonia cases increased by 16.9% (95% CI 11.3% to 22.8%) for every 1°C increase in the average temperature and by 4.1% (95% CI 2.7% to 5.5%) for every 1% increase in relative humidity.

Conclusions: From 1999 to 2007, cases of M pneumoniae pneumonia increased significantly with increased average temperature and relative humidity in Fukuoka, Japan.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Funding: The study was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan.

  • ‣ Additional figures are published online only at http://thorax.bmj.com/content/vol64/issue6

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF
  4. Web only appendices
  5. All Versions of this Article:
    1. thx.2008.111237v1
    2. 64/6/507 most recent

Social bookmarking

Register for free content


Free sample
 This recent issue is free to all users to allow everyone the opportunity to see the full scope and typical content of Thorax.
View free sample issue >>

Free archive
The full back archive is now available for Thorax. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006, back to volume 1 issue 1.
Register to access the free archive >>

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.