Central nervous system manifestations of Mycoplasma pneumoniae: Report of two children

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common infection in the early adolescent period, presenting most commonly as an upper respiratory tract infection with variable severity. Extrapulmonary manifestations include neurologic, hematologic, hepatic, and cardiac involvement. Hemiparesis and dysarthria are frequently encountered in the setting of cerebrovascular accidents. We present two patients who had neurological complications secondary to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. The first patient was a 12-year-old boy who presented with recurrent episodes of transient hemiparesis and dysarthria. The second patient was a 3-year-old girl who presented with seizures and aphasia. Both patients had pneumonia and positive serum immunoglobulin M against Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Follow up revealed a full recovery in the first case and moderate articulation disorder in the second patient.