SEVERE EXTRAPULMONARY COMPLICATIONS IN MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIAE INFECTION – CASE STUDY

Abstract

Mycoplasma infection is a common pathology in childhood. The most common involvement known is pulmonary, and the course of the illness is typically mild. Extra-pulmonary involvement include an extremely wide range of manifestations (neurological, cardiac, dermatological, hematological, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, renal, uro-genital, ocular), more frequently than we know, with an high incidence, up to 50%. We report two cases of life-threatening extra-pulmoary manifestations caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children. First case is a 17 year old teenager with severe and rapidly progressive form of hemolytic anemia without any anterior respiratory manifestation. Investigations revealed Mycoplasma pneumoniae as etiologic agent. Second case a 3 years old child of with severe sepsis, multi-organ failure, including hematological, in the context of extremely rare co-infection by Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Hantavirus. The onset of illness was with minor respiratory symptoms, but the evolution was rapidly progressive, ultimately leading to the child’s death. Both cases have imposed a wide range of investigations for diagnostic and to monitor the treatment. Therapeutic difficulties are presented and discussed.

Keywords

• chemolytic anemia
• mycoplasma pneumoniae
• child