MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIAE
INFECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH MENINGO-ENCEPHALITIS
Tsekoura TH, Zampetakis
G, Tsilimigkaki A, Stefanaki S, Sxoinaki A
Pediatric Clinic,
Venizelio General Hospital, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae
is common infection of respiratory system in school-age children and young
adults. Tracheobronchitis and bronchopneumonia are the most common clinical
syndromes. The onset of respiratory symptoms is gradual and low fever is
frequently prominent. Neurological syndromes associated with Mycoplasma
Pneumoniae infections are recognized and have been reported to occur in
0,1% of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections. Syndromes have been reported
includes encephalitis, meningitis, meningo-encephalitis, cerebral ataxia,
myelitis, polyradiculitis, and acute psychosis.
Observation: We describe the case of
a boy 6 years old with a pneumonia complicated by meningo-encephalitis in
which the first neurologic manifestation was diplopia. Others neurologic
findings included unstable walking, sleepiness and irritability. The
causative factor was Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Diagnosis was made with the
increased IgM and IgG antibodies against Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Extensive
investigations for others virals and microbiological causative factors were
negative. The boy after fifteen days therapy with clarithromycin was
completely recovered.
Conclusion: We describe the case
because infections of Mycoplasma pneumonia are very common and clinicians
should be alert for possibility of acute central nervous system
complications. Pediatricians should consider testing for M. pneumoniae when
they are treatment a patient with meningo-encephalitis.