Affiliations: Pediatric Infectious Disease Section, Children's
Hospital, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Children's Hospital,
King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Tariq Saleh Al Fawaz, Children's Hospital,
King Fahad Medical City, P.O. Box 59046, Riyadh 11525, Saudi Arabia. Tel.: +966
1 288-9999 ext. 2652; Fax; +966 1 288 9999 ext. 2205; E-mail:
T_alfawaz@yahoo.com
Abstract: Encephalitis is the most common central nervous system (CNS)
complication of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. CNS involvement represents the
second most common organ system involved other than respiratory system by M.
pneumoniae. We report a case of 11-year old male child, who was referred to us
with recurrent episodes of status epilepticus and worsening level of
consciousness. M. pneumoniae encephalitis was diagnosed on the basis of
positive serology and exclusion of other causes. High dose corticosteroid
therapy was given, which resulted in rapid improvement in the patient's
neurological condition and full recovery without any neurological sequel. This
case emphasizes the importance of CNS complications of M. pneumoniae and shows
that corticosteroid therapy has a place for treatment of mycoplasma
encephalitis. The available literature regarding this subject is also
presented.
Keywords: M. pneumoniae, encephalitis, corticosteroids use
