A Case of Acute Myopericarditis Associated With Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection in a Child

ABSTRACT

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) primarily causes respiratory tract infections in persons aged 5-20 years. Tracheobronchitis and bronchopneumonia are the most commonly recognized clinical symptoms associated with M. pneumoniae infection. Complications of this infection are unusual; in particular, cardiac involvement is very rare and is generally accompanied by pneumonia. Nonrespiratory illness can therefore involve direct invasion by M. pneumoniae or autoimmune mechanisms, as suggested by the frequency of cross reaction between human antigens and M. pneumoniae. Herein, we report a case of severe acute myopericarditis with pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae in a healthy young child who presented with fever, lethargy, oliguria and dyspnea. She survived with aggressive therapy including clarithromycin, intravenous immunoglobulin, inotropics, and diuretics. The patient was discharged on the 19th day after admission and followed up 1 month thereafter at the outpatient clinic without sequelae.