Neurological Manifestations of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection in Hospitalized Children: A Single-Center Experience

Objective: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the major causes of upper and lower respiratory tract infection in childhood. Neurological diseases are among the most common extrapulmonary manifestations.This study aimed to share our center’s experience regarding the treatment characteristics and clinical and radiological course of patients with M. pneumoniae -related neurological symptoms in light of the available evidence. Material and Methods: The study included in hospitalized patients with positive primary M. pneumoniae serology M. pneumoniae serology was examined in serum from the acute period and, if possible, convalescent serum (1-4 weeks after disease onset) using M. pneumoniae -specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG enzyme-linked immunoassay. A 4-fold or greater increase in IgG titer between acute and convalescent serum samples was considered diagnostic for M. pneumoniae infection. The clinical, laboratory, and imaging results and demographic data of patients with CNS involvement were evaluated. Results: Review of the patients’ charts showed that 13 (25%) of the 52 patients with confirmed M. pneumoniae infection had neurological symptoms and findings. When evaluated together with clinical, laboratory, and imaging results, 6 patients were diagnosed with acute cerebellar ataxia, 4 patients with encephalitis, and 1 patient each with GBS, optic neuritis, and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Conclusion: Although M. pneumoniae is known as mainly a respiratory pathogen, it also causes various neurological disorders. Although all of our patients had symptoms of respiratory tract infection, it has been shown that that M. pneumoniae can also cause neurological disease without respiratory symptoms. Further studies are needed to evaluate the most appropriate methods for early diagnosis and treatment of neurological involvement, considering the long-term burden of the disease.