OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship between peripheral blood interferon γ (IFN-γ)/interleukin-4 (IL-4) and the short-term prognosis of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP), and to analyze the influencing factors for the short-term prognosis of children with MPP.

METHODS A total of 170 children with MPP admitted to the hospital from Jan. 2021 to Jan. 2024 were selected (MPP group). Based on the condition 28 days after treatment, they were divided into a poor prognosis group (n=49) and a good prognosis group (n=121). Clinical data of the children were collected, and the levels of peripheral blood interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were measured to calculate the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio. Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors affecting the short-term prognosis of children with MPP.

RESULTS In the poor prognosis group, the duration of antibiotic use, the proportion of pleural effusion, the proportion of extrapulmonary complications, and the levels of peripheral blood IL-4 and IFN-γ were higher than those in the good prognosis group, while the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was lower than that in the good prognosis group (P < 0.05). Logistic regression results showed that persistent fever, prolonged antibiotic use and the occurrence of extrapulmonary complications were risk factors for the short-term prognosis of children with MPP (P < 0.05), and a high IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was a protective factor (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION Persistent fever, prolonged antibiotic use and extrapulmonary complications are risk factors for the short-term prognosis of children with MPP, and high IFN-γ/IL-4 values is a protective factor.