Mycoplasma associated stroke in a 4 year old child- A multifactorial etiology

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumonia is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in India. Stroke due to infection-induced thrombosis is a rare complication of this infection and etiology can be multifactorial. We report a four-year-old girl with a mycoplasma infection associated stroke with thrombosis of the internal carotid artery and presence of lupus anticoagulant. She also had other risk factors for thrombosis like iron deficiency anemia and dehydration due to diarrhea which probably exacerbated an infection-induced procoagulant state. Lupus anticoagulants may be detected in many asymptomatic children with infections. The presence of other risk factors may precipitate a serious thrombotic event leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Recognising atypical pneumonia in the community and prompt treatment may reduce the serious extrapulmonary complications like stroke in children.

Keywords

• antiphospholipid antibodies
• etiology
• lupus anticoagulant
• mycoplasma
• stroke
• thrombosis