Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in children.

Mycoplasma pneumoniaeand Its Role as a Human Pathogen

“…Up to one-third of patients with M. pneumoniae infection may have nonspecific ear symptoms, including otitis externa, otitis media, and myringitis (301,392). Acute rhabdomyolysis was recently reported in association with M. pneumoniae infection in a 15-year-old patient (41).…”

“…Approximately 6 to 7% of hospitalized patients with serologically confirmed cases of M. pneumoniae pneumonia may experience neurological complications of varying severity (237,294,332,387). Such complications have included encephalitis, cerebellar syndrome and polyradiculitis, cranial nerve palsies, aseptic meningitis or meningoencephalitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, coma, optic neuritis, diplopia, mental confusion, and acute psychosis secondary to encephalitis (39,98,159,226,264,331,386,392). A number of motor deficiencies have also been described, including cranial nerve palsy, brachial plexus neuropathy, ataxia, choreoathetosis, and ascending paralysis (Guillain-Barré Syndrome) (2,4,9,12,39,44,223,226,319).…”

“…Inflammation of the throat may be present, especially in children, with or without cervical adenopathy, and conjunctivitis and myringitis sometimes occur (7,125,152). Children under 5 years of age are most likely to manifest coryza and wheezing, and progression to pneumonia is relatively uncommon, whereas older children aged 5 to 15 years are more likely to develop bronchopneumonia, involving one or more lobes, sometimes requiring hospitalization (137,273,392). Mild infections and asymptomatic conditions are particularly common in adults, and bronchopneumonia involving one or more lobes develops in 3 to 10% of infected persons (61).…”

I. General Considerations

“…Most commonly there is a gradual onset with malaise, fever, headache, and scratchy cough manifested by the third or fifth day. Auscultation is of little significance: high pitched stertors and rales, rather subdued for the intensity of the accompanying cough (64,65). Occasionally, when there appear what are generally small effusions, the course is prolonged and beset by more complications (Table 5) (66,67).…”

Mycoplasma pneumonia: presentation as a mediastinal mass

“…This organism can affect all organ systems and produces a wide variety of signs and symptoms [2]. Radiologic findings in the thorax include lung consolidation, pleural and pericardial effusion, and hilar adenopathy [2,3].…”