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Mycoplasma pneumoniae: nervous system complications in childhood and review of the literature

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Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an important pathogen which causes nervous system disorders during or after the course of a respiratory tract infection. The exact pathogenic mechanism which causes neurological disorders still remains unknown. Although meningoencephalitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis are common complications, there are few cases of acute transverse myelitis and isolated abducens nerve palsy associated with M. pneumoniae infection in childhood. The association between ocular myasthenia gravis and M. pneumoniae infection has not been described before. Here, we describe five patients with different nervous system complications associated with M. pneumoniae infection and discuss the pathological features of central nervous system involvement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, 35340, İzmir, Turkey

    Uluç Yiş, Semra Hız Kurul & Eray Dirik

  2. Department of Radiology, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey

    Handan Çakmakçı

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  1. Uluç Yiş
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  2. Semra Hız Kurul
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  3. Handan Çakmakçı
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  4. Eray Dirik
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Correspondence to Uluç Yiş.

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Yiş, U., Kurul, S.H., Çakmakçı, H. et al. Mycoplasma pneumoniae: nervous system complications in childhood and review of the literature. Eur J Pediatr 167, 973–978 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-008-0714-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-008-0714-1

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