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Published on: February 24, 2023

Role of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in pediatric encephalitis

C Domenech1, N Leveque, B Lina

  • 1Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France. carine_halfon@yahoo.fr

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
|July 16, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Mycoplasma pneumoniae may be a significant cause of infectious encephalitis in children. This retrospective study found probable M. pneumoniae encephalitis in 17% of pediatric cases, suggesting it

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Acute childhood encephalitis is a serious condition with diverse etiologies.
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a known pathogen, but its role in encephalitis is not fully established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in acute childhood encephalitis cases.
  • To compare M. pneumoniae as a cause of encephalitis with other common pathogens in children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 29 children hospitalized with infectious encephalitis.
  • Analysis of serological tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from throat/nasopharyngeal swabs.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) PCR was also analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae encephalitis was probable in 5 cases (17%) based on positive serology or swab PCR.
  • CSF PCR for M. pneumoniae was negative in all cases.
  • Enteroviruses and Epstein-Barr virus were identified in 5 and 3 cases, respectively.

Conclusions:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a potential major cause of infectious encephalitis in children.
  • Further research is needed to understand the pathogenesis and diagnostic criteria for M. pneumoniae encephalitis.

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