Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Encephalitis

Epidemiology of encephalitis in children. A prospective multicentre study

“…Among the potential causative agents in childhood encephalitis many are dicult to diagnose [14]. For example, no reliable commercial tests are available for chlamydial species or Mycoplasma pneumoniae, but both are treatable by antibiotics, so diagnosis is important [11].…”

“…Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is occasionally associated with encephalitis in children [9,16] and can cause severe disease. Because speci®c therapy is available for HSV [23] and certain other agents, precise aetiological diagnosis is important [9,11,20]. Numerous diagnostic tests have been developed to assist in this precision [3,6,13].…”

Central nervous system manifestations of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections

“…3,11,12 Isolation of a coinfecting organism was evident by use of culture, PCR, or antigen detection in 5 of the 11 (45%) patients who were classified as having probable M. pneumoniae encephalitis by Bitnun et al 3 The co-identification of more than one pathogen especially if made on the basis of serology testing only must in many circumstances draw scepticism for the role of one or both organisms in the CNS disease. Respiratory viral infections can have cytotoxic effects on respiratory epithelium, and, therefore, it is conceivable that such infections could have facilitated bloodstream invasion by M. pneumoniae.…”

“…1,9 M. pneumoniae is considered as one of the major causes of encephalitis in children 3,10,11 and in most prospective studies 5-10% of these cases is attributed to M. pneumoniae. 3,8,12 For other CNS manifestations such as myelitis, no large series exist and evidence is based on anecdotes.…”

“…In several of the reviewed series for the current report gender did not appear to be a risk factor for M. pneumoniae related CNS disease. 3,8,10,12,16 Pathogenesis of M. pneumoniae related CNS disease Several mechanisms could theoretically explain the CNS manifestations seen in association with M. pneumoniae infections. These include direct invasion of the CNS, immune phenomena, vascular injury and hypercoagulable state and toxic effects (Fig.…”