Mycoplasma IF antibodies. Mycoplasma hominis (mycoplasmosis), IgA antibodies, qualitative, blood

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Description

The analysis refers to the serological diagnosis of genital infections. The test material is blood, in which antibodies to the pathogen are detected. Antibodies are components of the body's immune system that are produced to destroy a specific foreign antigen protein. In this case, the antigen is mycoplasma (Mycoplasma hominis). There are several types of antibodies: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM. However, the immune system cannot always cope with mycoplasmas even at very high concentrations of antibodies. Each of the listed antibodies has its own function and its own period of appearance. IgM is produced already 5 days after infection. The peak of IgM falls on 1-2 weeks, then there is a gradual decrease in their number and after 2-3 months the antibodies disappear completely even without treatment (they are replaced by IgG). If an exacerbation occurs during the chronic course of mycoplasmosis, IgM appears again.

Mycoplasmosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by specific microorganisms - mycoplasmas, with a primary lesion of the genitourinary system.

Mycoplasmas are divided into conditionally pathogenic(which can cause disease only when the immune system is weakened) and pathogenic, whose specific features allow them to harm the human body without concomitant favorable conditions for them. Pathogenic are transmitted only sexually and during the passage of the child through the infected birth canal of the mother.

Clinical manifestations of mycoplasmosis:

Possible transparent, white or yellowish discharge from the external opening of the urethra;

Burning sensation when urinating;

Unpleasant sensations during intercourse (dyspareunia);

Redness and itching at the external opening of the urethra;

With complicated mycoplasmosis:

In men, pain in the scrotum, as well as in the rectum;

In women, pain in the rectum, perineum, lower back, pulling pains in the lower abdomen;

Intermenstrual bleeding of a smearing nature;

Small rashes in the genital area;

This symptomatology is due to the spread of the infection in an ascending way with a lesion, both in men and in women, of any organs of the small pelvis.

The most formidable complication: male and female infertility.

Indications

Indications for appointment:

Diagnosis of mycoplasmosis;

Comprehensive examination for the diagnosis of STDs;

Frequent change of sexual partners, unprotected sexual contact;

Symptoms corresponding to the clinical picture of bacterial vaginosis;

Using personal hygiene items and wearing linen with which a sick person or a carrier of infection has been in direct contact;

Newborns whose mothers have a history of bacterial vaginosis.

Interpretation of results

Interpretation of results:

Positive test result:

Acute course of mycoplasmosis, infection less than 2 - 3 weeks ago;

Exacerbation of chronic mycoplasmosis;

Negative test result:

Absence of IgM class antibodies to Mycoplasma hominis;

Infection with mycoplasmosis less than 5 days before the analysis;

Absence of mycoplasmosis;

Chronic course of mycoplasmosis (over 2-3 months from the moment of infection).

To determine the acute phase of inflammation, a blood test for IgM is most often used.

An alternative study is the determination of IgA antibodies to Mycoplasma hominis. But this indicator is used less frequently.

In the acute phase of inflammation, an increase in IgM titers to Mycoplasma hominis almost always occurs. While the analysis for IgA sometimes remains negative.

When IgM to Mycoplasma hominis appears, this indicates a primary infection with mycoplasma infection.

Less often, their level in the blood increases with an exacerbation of a latent infection. As a rule, the level of IgM in the blood rises quite quickly. These antibodies appear within a week after infection.

The study is usually carried out qualitatively, without a quantitative assessment of the antibody titer. In the case of a positive result, the positivity coefficient (CP) is determined.

Three types of results are possible:

• negative;
• doubtful;
• positive (with the definition of CP).

A positive result indicates active infection.

The determination of the CP allows the doctor to judge how reliable this result is.

The higher the positivity coefficient, the higher the likelihood of acute mycoplasmosis. But at the same time, the CP is not studied in dynamics. It does not correlate with the titer (concentration) of class M antibodies in the blood. Therefore, it makes no sense to use it to evaluate the results of treatment.

Possible reasons for a negative IgM blood test result:

• the person is healthy;
• the analysis was given in the first week after infection, and the antibody titer is still insufficient for a positive result of the study;
• remote period after the infection;
• bacteriocarrier (in this case, antibodies to mycoplasma IgG may be observed with negative IgM);
• weak immune response to mycoplasmosis.

The results are evaluated together with the determination of IgG in the blood. In this case, the study will be as informative as possible.

IgM to Mycoplasma hominis - when do they disappear from the blood?

Immunoglobulins M quickly appear, but quickly disappear. Moreover, even in the case when the patient has not received adequate treatment.

The lifetime of IgM to Mycoplasma hominis in the blood is on average 1-2 months. After this time, even with a persistent active inflammatory process, only IgG will remain in the blood.

Antibodies to Mycoplasma hominis IgG

The main method for determining IgG antibodies to Mycoplasma hominis is ELISA. Usually this research is carried out by a qualitative method. The number (titer) of antibodies to immunoglobulin G is not determined.

IgG antibodies in chronic mycoplasmosis are almost always positive. In the case of a positive test result, the positivity coefficient is determined.

When IgG antibodies appear during mycoplasma infection, this may indicate:

• active infection;
• bacteriocarrier;
• past infection a few months ago.

Often patients are interested in when the antibodies to mycoplasma IgG go away after treatment.

The analysis can remain positive for a long time, as the IgG titer decreases slowly after the mycoplasma is cured. The disappearance of these immunoglobulins from the blood occurs within a few months.

In some cases, there are false positive results of the analysis for IgG antibodies to mycoplasma:

• with allergies;
• with immune disorders;
• with other infections.

When are Anti-Mycoplasma IgG Antibodies Treated?

The detection of antibodies to mycoplasma indicates that this microorganism is present in the structures of the urogenital tract. But it does not always cause an inflammatory process.

Accordingly, treatment is also not always required. As a rule, the patient is simultaneously tested for IgG and IgM.

If IgG is positive and IgM is negative, treatment may be omitted.

After all, the result of the study may well indicate a previously transferred infection or asymptomatic carriage.

When should I treat Mycoplasma hominis IgM?

The opinions of doctors about the need to treat diseases caused by Mycoplasma hominis are divided. If mycoplasma genitalium is considered a pathogenic microorganism, then mycoplasma hominis is a representative of a conditionally pathogenic flora. This means that the very fact of its presence in the urogenital tract does not indicate an inflammatory process.

On the other hand, this microorganism is an undesirable "guest" in the structures of the genitourinary system, because it "behaves culturally" for the time being. Immunodeficiency, pregnancy, concomitant STIs - all this can cause an increase in the population of mycoplasmas with the development of an inflammatory process. Urogenital mycoplasmosis is associated with perinatal losses and can provoke spontaneous abortion in a pregnant woman.

Definitely, when IgM is detected, treatment is necessary if:

• a woman is planning a pregnancy;
• there are clinical signs of the inflammatory process;
• a history of episodes of acute inflammation caused by mycoplasma;
• aggravated obstetric anamnesis (infertility, perinatal losses).

The need for treatment is debatable if a woman does not plan pregnancy, including in the distant future, and does not suffer from symptoms of mycoplasmosis.

IgM to Mycoplasma hominis was detected, PCR from the urethra was negative

Sometimes different studies give conflicting results. For example, an IgM antibody test may be positive, but PCR is negative.

Why is this happening?

There are several options:

• Localization of infection is not in the urethra.

In this case, antibodies to mycoplasma will be determined in the blood. But in a scraping from the urethra, there will be no pathogen DNA if it is localized in the prostate, uterus, or broncho-pulmonary system.

• False positive antibody test.

In the presence of symptoms of urethritis - a more reliable method of research.

It is almost never wrong, unlike serological tests, which can give false negative results.

If you find any antibodies to mycoplasma, contact a competent venereologist.

Mycoplasma hominis (mycoplasma hominis, hominis) is the causative agent of urogenital mycoplasmosis, which poses a real threat to the health of women, men and children. Mycoplasma hominis enters the human body through the mucous membranes of the genital organs through contact with a sick partner or a carrier.

In the absence of timely and adequate treatment, mycoplasma infection can cause infertility in women due to inflammation of the genital organs, and in men as a result of impaired spermatogenesis and damage to spermatozoa. It is essential to treat urogenital mycoplasmosis.

Mycoplasma hominis is the cause of inflammation of the genital organs, adhesions of the fallopian tubes, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. In pregnant women, mycoplasma can lead to miscarriages or premature births, uterine bleeding, and the development of fetal abnormalities. This is due to inflammation of the membranes, their rupture and outpouring of amniotic fluid. If an infant is infected during childbirth, it develops mycoplasmal pneumonia or meningitis.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of urogenital mycoplasmosis consists in carrying out laboratory research methods, which are preceded by the collection of an anamnesis of life and illness, and an external examination of the patient. Microbiological and serological studies can confirm or refute the alleged diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment of urogenital mycoplasmosis is the use of antibiotics. The choice of drug is determined by the results of the analysis for the sensitivity of mycoplasmas. Some mycoplasmas are not detected in the smear and do not grow on nutrient media. In this case, the doctor selects an antibiotic based on the history. In addition to etiotropic therapy, patients are prescribed immunomodulators.

It is necessary to treat the disease simultaneously for both sexual partners. Otherwise, re-infection will occur, and the therapy will be useless. One month after stopping treatment, antibody testing should be repeated.

Prevention

Preventive measures to avoid urogenital mycoplasmosis:

• Using condoms during intercourse
• Balanced diet,
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
• Identification and sanitation of existing foci of infection in the body,
• Strengthening immunity,
• Compliance with sanitary standards and rules of personal hygiene.

Mycoplasmosis often leads to severe consequences and dangerous complications. You can not self-medicate, you should consult a specialist. The disease can complicate not only intimate life, but also bearing a child. If characteristic symptoms occur, it is necessary to visit a gynecologist, undergo an examination and a course of prescribed therapy.

Video: doctor about mycoplasma, how dangerous is mycoplasmosis

Video: mycoplasma in the program “Live healthy!”

Antibodies to mycoplasma - a study performed by doctors quite often. In the event that they suspect infection with this pathogen.

However, not all patients understand what antibodies are, why they are needed, and what diagnostic value they have.

Meanwhile, understanding the purpose of the analysis increases the motivation for proper preparation. Therefore, it is worth knowing why the study is important.

What is it - antibodies to Mycoplasma hominis, and what are the features of the analysis, patients often ask their physicians. What kind of pathogen is mycoplasma in general, and what classes of immunoglobulins exist for it?

• Antibody classes

General information about mycoplasma

Before understanding what antibodies to mycoplasma IgG and other options are, you need to find out what are the features of the pathogen.

Mycoplasmas- a fairly large group of pathogenic microorganisms that can live inside a human cell. A significant number of varieties of the pathogen are isolated, but not all of them pose an immediate threat to humans.

For the female and male genitourinary system, the greatest danger is represented by mycoplasmas of the hominis class. Since they are capable of causing negative changes in the body in a significant number of cases.

In general, doctors tend to classify mycoplasma as an opportunistic pathogen. This means that the bacterium is able to exist in the body for a long time without showing itself in any way. Moreover, a significant number of people are infected with the pathogen without even knowing it. Since there are no symptoms, and harm to the body is not caused.

However, in some cases, mycoplasma gets out of control and leads to the development of mycoplasmosis. Perhaps this, for example, with a strong decrease in immunity or disturbances in the composition of the normal microflora of the genital organs.

Doctors note that mycoplasmosis rarely develops as an isolated disease.

Much more often in a patient, in addition to infection with this pathogenic microorganism, symptoms of trichomoniasis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and other STIs are observed. This is due to the fact that pathogenic microorganisms reduce the immune defense of the body. This allows the opportunistic bacteria to actively multiply, causing additional harm to the body.

When should I donate blood for antibodies to mycoplasma

Often patients wonder when it is worth to determine antibodies to Mycoplasma hominis IgG.
Doctors note that just like that, such an analysis does not give up, since it has no diagnostic value.

There are a number of indications for which it is worthwhile to undergo research. First of all, among the indications there are symptoms indicating the development of urogenital mycoplasmosis.

These include:

• urethritis characterized by the appearance of problems with urination;
• cystitis, accompanied by complaints of problems with emptying the bladder, pain in the projection area of ​​the organ;
• vaginitis, characterized by soreness of the genital organs, irritation in the genital area and other unpleasant symptoms.

But not only the symptoms of any pathology can be the reason for the examination.

Perfectly healthy people also sometimes need to be analyzed. This is necessary, for example, if the couple is preparing for pregnancy or artificial insemination. The fact is that mycoplasmosis can negatively affect pregnancy and childbirth.

To prevent unwanted complications, doctors diagnose and treat the couple. Also, research is necessary if a married couple cannot conceive a child for a long time.

Doctors note that mycoplasma rarely causes infertility. However, if other causes of problems have already been excluded, it is worth undergoing this examination.

The representatives of the fair sex, who have obstetric anamnesis burdens, are also obligatorily examined. This includes episodes of miscarriages, missed pregnancies, the birth of premature babies, fetuses with abnormalities, etc.
Burdening obstetric history may indicate a latent inflammatory process. It needs to be diagnosed and treated promptly.

In some cases, diagnosis is also recommended if the patient suffers from pelvic inflammation. And it is not possible to establish their cause reliably. Mandatory testing is also indicated for all patients who seek help because of unprotected sex.

After all, most often mycoplasmosis spreads during unprotected sexual intercourse.

How to determine the presence of antibodies to mycoplasma

Not all patients imagine the process of how antibodies to mycoplasma in the blood are determined.

Most often, for such a diagnosis, the ELISA reaction is used, or, as it is also called immunofluorescence. In order to perform the diagnosis, the patient takes blood from a vein.

Preparation for the study is pretty standard:

• a morning visit to the hospital on an empty stomach is recommended.
• refusal to use antibiotics and other medicines that can affect the results of the analysis,
• following a light diet.

IFa reaction refers to serological diagnostics. The study becomes reliable no earlier than 5-6 days after contact with the pathogen.

It does not make sense to take a diagnosis earlier, since the antibodies have not yet had time to fully form.

There are two types of ELISA.

1. Qualitative

During a qualitative enzyme immunoassay, the doctor simply finds out whether there are antibodies to the pathogen in the body or not. If there are antibodies, then infection is present, and it is likely that therapy is required.

The absence of antibodies indicates that there is no mycoplasma in the blood.

1. Quantitative

A quantitative type study is performed in order to understand exactly how many immunoglobulins are in the bloodstream. If there are too many, the patient may need therapy.

Given that we are talking about conditionally pathogenic microflora, in some cases, therapy may not be required.

ELISA – a study that has a number of advantages over other analyses.
First, it is easy to obtain biological material for its implementation.

Taking blood from a vein is a simple procedure that can be performed at any hospital or diagnostic center.

Secondly, it is possible to get results in a short time.

Some private laboratories give their patients the opportunity to get the results on hand within 1.5-2 hours after donating blood.

Antibody classes

Doctors note that there are several diagnostically significant classes of antibodies. Their assessment in case of suspected mycoplasmosis allows you to determine how long ago the infection occurred.

And how much pathology is running.

When igm antibodies to Mycoplasma hominis appear, patients are often interested.

Antibodies of this class are markers of the acute phase of the inflammatory response. Accordingly, after the infection has occurred, they are the very first in the bloodstream. Their titer increases as the inflammatory process worsens. Then, when the immune system forms a stable reaction, it goes into decline.

In some cases, an alternative to the igm score may be the iga score. However, as doctors say, IgA antibodies to Mycoplasma hominis are not always detected.

In some cases, pathogen markers are absent, but igm is determined in most cases. In most cases, the presence of class M antibodies indicates that a primary infection has occurred. That is, the infection was caught in the acute phase.

However, in some cases, a turn in indicators occurs if a previously dormant pathogenic microorganism has become more active and has begun to harm the body.

Testing for class M antibodies is done qualitatively, not quantitatively.

It is important for the doctor to determine simply the fact of their presence in the body in order to confirm an acute process. If the study is positive, the positivity coefficient is additionally checked. It is used to evaluate the reliability of the results obtained.
IgM to Mycoplasma hominis most often disappears from the bloodstream 1-2 months after the infection has occurred. During this time, the immune system forms a full-fledged immune response to fight the pathogen.

IgG antibodies to Mycoplasma hominis are determined by ELISA. The qualitative method is preferred.

A quantitative approach is not used as it is not considered informative.

In the body, immunoglobulins of this class are present if a person suffers from an active infection or a bacteriocarrier.

In some cases, they are also determined if the disease has been defeated. When this class of antibodies disappears after therapy, patients are interested. Basically, it takes from 3 to 6 months, but in some patients they persist for life.

Class G immunoglobulins indicate that the immune system has developed resistance to the pathogen, and the immune response has begun.

It is likely that with high titers of IgG in the blood, the microbe will be removed by the body without outside help. However, doctors do not recommend taking risks.

Treatment is required to prevent the transition of the infectious process into a chronic form.

It is important to remember that test results may not be reliable. If the doctor sees that the clinical picture does not correlate with the results, he may recommend that the studies be repeated.

Deciphering the results of the analysis for antibodies to mycoplasma

Deciphering test results may seem like a simple matter that can be handled without the help of a doctor.

In fact, everything is not so.

The doctor can correctly correlate the symptoms he sees with the results obtained from the laboratory. The patient cannot do this, because he does not have specific knowledge. If class M antibodies are found in the blood, the doctor can say that the infection happened not so long ago. The disease in this case is characterized as acute.

However, given the characteristics of the course of mycoplasmosis, the symptoms may be completely absent. If class G antibodies are found in the body, then it is concluded that the patient is a carrier of mycoplasmosis. Or had been ill with this pathology in the last six months.

In some cases, in clinical practice, there is an increase in IgM titers to Mycoplasma hominis. A change in this indicator against the background of the preservation of G-antibodies indicates that a re-infection has occurred. Or a pathogenic microorganism, previously in a state of dormancy, has activated in the body.

It is important to remember that the absence of symptoms with positive tests does not mean that the disease is absent, and the analysis was erroneous.

Mycoplasma is an opportunistic pathogen. It does not always cause bright inflammatory reactions in the patient's body.

In order to correctly assess the results, coupled with symptoms or their absence, the help of a competent doctor is required.
Self-interpretation of the results may lead the patient to self-diagnose and begin treatment. Only by harming your body with such behavior.

When is Mycoplasma Treatment Needed?

Among patients, the question often arises of when to treat IgM to Mycoplasma hominis.

The opinions of doctors on this matter differ greatly. In most cases, it is believed that if there are class M immunoglobulins, then even in the absence of symptoms, treatment is necessary. After all, the inflammatory process in the body can occur in a latent form, and its consequences can be unpredictable.

However, there is another opinion. Some doctors believe that if there are no symptoms indicating an inflammatory process, then treatment can not be carried out. Such an opinion has the right to life. After all, mycoplasma refers to conditionally pathogenic microbes. And not always, once in the patient's body, it provokes negative reactions.

On the other hand, doctors identify a number of situations where therapy is clearly needed.
Regardless of whether there are any negative symptoms, or they are absent.

• a couple planning a pregnancy in the near future;
• the presence of complaints indicating the presence of inflammatory processes in the genital area;
• the patient previously suffered from acute inflammatory processes provoked by a microbe;
• the woman has burdens in the obstetric anamnesis.

The decision on when treatment is needed is made on a case-by-case basis.

The doctor focuses on the patient's complaints, listens to the circumstances of the infection, and performs tests. Only after the doctor sees the full clinical picture of the disease, he decides on the appropriateness of the therapeutic effect.

If a decision is made on the need for therapy, a follow-up analysis after treatment is performed without fail. His task is to show that the disease has been successfully defeated.

Detection of immunoglobulins with negative PCR for mycoplasma

Mycoplasmosis- a disease that can be diagnosed not only with the help of ELISA techniques.

The doctor may prescribe, for example, a swab from the urethra. It will be examined using a microscope or polymerase chain reaction.

In some cases, PCR and microscopic examination are negative. And ELISA gives positive results.

Patients want to know why this might be. Everything is pretty simple. Mycoplasma is a microorganism that can be localized not only in the genital tract. Accordingly, if the genital tract is not affected by a pathogenic microorganism, but it is present in some other organ. Then PCR and a swab from the genital area will give a negative result.

However, wherever the pathogen is located, it will always secrete antibodies into the bloodstream. The ELISA reaction is aimed at their detection. Therefore, if the ELISA is positive with a negative PCR, attention should be paid to finding the source of infection in the body.

Determination of immunoglobulins in the bloodstream can provide a large amount of diagnostic data.

The main thing is to properly prepare for blood sampling!

If you need to take an analysis for antibodies to mycoplasma, please contact the author of this article - a venereologist in Moscow with many years of experience.

Editor

Pulmonologist

Mycoplasma pneumonia in adults is an inflammation of the lungs of an atypical group, when the inflammatory process is provoked by the mycoplasma bacterium.

Among pneumonia, this pathology is quite common and accounts for more than a third of all pulmonary lesions of a non-bacterial nature. The disease can be single (random) or massive (epidemic).

The peak of infection occurs in the cold season (autumn, winter). The most susceptible to infection are children and young people under the age of 37-40 years. ICD-10: J15.7

Microbiology

Mycoplasmosis is the result of infection of the lungs by a pathogenic microorganism Mycoplasma pneumoniae. According to taxonomy, it belongs to the category of anaerobic with high virulence.

In mycoplasma pneumoniae, the microbiology is presented as follows. These are very small prokaryotic organisms close in size to viruses, and in structure to the bacterial L-form, since they do not have a cell wall. They are adsorbed on epitheliocytes and fixed on membranes or penetrate into cells.

The fixation of mycoplasma in tissues excites an autoimmune reaction, and autoantibody formation provokes the corresponding manifestations of the disease. This microorganism can persist for a long time in the epithelial cells and the annulus of the lymphopharyngeal zone. Accumulating in the nasopharyngeal mucus, it is easy. Outside the human body, the infection is unstable.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes not only pneumonia, it also becomes the culprit of bronchial asthma, pharyngitis, COPD, as well as some non-respiratory diseases:

• meningitis;
• otitis;
• pericarditis;
• others.

The absence of a cell wall makes mycoplasma highly resistant to many drugs, in particular to β-lactam antibiotics (penicillins and cephalosporins).

Ways of bacterial infection

The source of pathogenic mycoplasma is a sick person, but it is also possible to become infected from a carrier of the infection, who does not show signs of the disease due to high immune defenses. The most common way of infection is an aerogenic mechanism, when the pathogen is transmitted by airborne droplets (coughing, sneezing, close contact).

Most often, infection occurs in a group. In principle, infection is possible through sputum that has fallen on things or any objects. However, the contact-household method is rarely recorded due to the low viability of the pathogen in the external environment.

The incubation period is 2-4 weeks. During this time, mycoplasma through the pharynx and larynx penetrates into the mucous membrane of the bronchi and trachea.

Having fixed on the epithelium of the respiratory tract, it affects the cellular bridges and disrupts the tissue structure.

Diagnostics

One of the most common ways to diagnose pneumonia is considered. However, in the case of mycoplasmal etiology in the initial period, the X-ray technique is not able to detect pathology. Early diagnosis becomes possible when:

• serotyping;
• blood test for PCR;
• enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).

Widely used:

• aggregate-hemagglutination reactions (RAHA);
• complement binding (RCC);
• indirect immunofluorescence (RNIF).

Blood test for antibodies

All of these technologies are based on the detection in blood serum and secrets of specific antibodies to mycoplasma, which are produced by the immune system in response to infection. During the initial infection, early antibodies are produced - class M immunoglobulins. An increase in their level (IgM) indicates the onset of an acute inflammatory reaction.

As immune proteins are produced, IgM decreases, but other antibodies appear - immunoglobulins G. Their level (IgG) indicates the duration of the process or the fact that the body was previously affected by mycoplasma. Thus, antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumonia IgM and IgG indicate not only the penetration of the infection, but also the duration and severity of the lesion. .

When the analysis is deciphered, mycoplasma pneumonia is detected by the following indicators:

1. Negative results for IgM and IgG indicate the absence of infection.
2. IgG antibodies detected, i.e. IgG result (+) was obtained, but IgM result was negative (-). This indicates that infection occurred, but the pathogen is suppressed, and immunity to it is formed. Treatment may not be carried out, but control should be ensured.
3. Antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgG are absent, that is, IgG - (-), while IgM is positive (+). Such an analysis indicates the onset of an acute development of pneumonia, and adequate treatment is necessary.
4. IgG positive (+), IgM also positive (+). This means that the body has previously suffered a similar infection, but a re-infection has occurred, and the process begins to take on an acute form. The immune system is failing and appropriate treatment is needed.
5. IgM antibodies are detected already 4-5 days after infection, and the rate gradually increases. Immunoglobulins IgG appear 17-20 days after infection. They remain in the blood for 2-3 years after complete recovery. To detect all antibodies, studies are carried out several times with an interval of 10-14 days.

The course of mycoplasmal pneumonia can be aggravated by the activation of cold antibodies (agglutinins). They appear as a reaction to hypothermia or cold drinking. As a result, the likelihood of developing dangerous pathological reactions - hemolysis and acrocyanosis - increases.

Important! Activation of cold antibodies is detected by a corresponding increase in IgM. RAGA helps to recognize this change. The accumulation of antibodies on erythrocytes helps to determine the Coombs test.

Clinical symptoms

The incubation period is usually 13-15 days, but can take up to a month. In the initial period, the following symptoms are characteristic:

• headache;
• general weakness;
• perspiration and dryness in the throat;
• runny nose;
• subfebrile temperature.

One of the characteristic features -. Initially, it has an unproductive character, but gradually viscous sputum with mucus begins to appear.

More obvious symptoms appear 5-7 days after the first signs. Body temperature rises to 39.5-40 degrees and remains at a high level for up to 6-7 days, after which it again becomes subfebrile.

Appears pronounced with intensification with a deep breath. Extrapulmonary symptoms are also found:

• skin rash;
• myalgia;
• insomnia;
• discomfort in the stomach;
• paresthesia.

Pneumonia is usually accompanied by diseases of the upper respiratory tract (rhinopharyngobronchitis, pharyngobronchitis, rhinobronchitis, bronchiolitis).

Treatment

The treatment regimen depends on. In the acute form, treatment is carried out in stationary conditions with quarantine. It is based on antibiotic treatment with the appointment of such groups of drugs:

• macrolides;
• fluoroquinolones;
• tetracyclines.

The course of taking antibiotics is 13-15 days, with preference given to a stepwise scheme (at the initial stage - injections, and then - orally).

Depending on the manifestations of pneumonia, symptomatic therapy with the appointment:

• bronchodilators;
• painkillers and expectorants;
• antipyretics;
• immunostimulants;
• hormones.

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Conclusion

Mycoplasma pneumonia is a special form of pneumonia that requires a specific approach to diagnosis and treatment. Only modern techniques make it possible to timely identify the nature of the pathology, and therefore determine the optimal treatment regimen. In its advanced form, the disease can lead to serious consequences, even death.