[Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in a four-year-old child with transient abscess in the right lower lobe].

Abstract

UNLABELLED:

The frequency of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection among community-acquired pneumonia, underestimated for a long time, is now better known. Severe evolution is yet uncommon. Differential diagnosis with Streptococcus pneumoniae is often difficult.

CASE REPORT:

A 4-year-old child was admitted for a right lower lobe pneumonia, with very high values of white blood cell count and CRP, worsening despite a treatment with high doses of amoxicillin, then with cefotaxime and vancomycin. Diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection was considered only on the tenth day after admission and confirmed on the thirteenth day. Clinical outcome rapidly improved with macrolide antibiotherapy. Radiologic outcome consisted, two months after the beginning of the pneumonia, in abscess of the right lower lobe, which recovered in one month with continuing oral antibiotherapy.

CONCLUSION:

Lung abscess is very rare in M. pneumoniae pneumonia, as only two other cases were described in the literature. In all three cases, macrolide therapy was delayed. Those cases highlight the importance of considering M. pneumoniae infection in a beta-lactams-resistant community-acquired pneumonia, whatever its severity may be, and to start macrolide antibiotherapy. Our case also shows the possibility of a conservative treatment in case of pulmonary abscess, if clinical tolerance is good.

• Authors: D Siret, G Picherot
• Journal: Archives de pediatrie : organe officiel de la Societe francaise de pediatrie (Arch Pediatr) Vol. 7 Issue 4 Pg. 391-5 (Apr 2000) ISSN: 0929-693X [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Pneumopathie à Mycoplasma pneumoniae chez un enfant de quatre ans avec abcédation bulleuse transitoire du lobe inférieur droit.
• PMID: 10793927 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Macrolides

Topics

• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Child, Preschool
• Humans
• Lung (pathology)
• Lung Abscess (drug therapy, microbiology, pathology)
• Macrolides
• Male
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae
• Pneumonia, Mycoplasma (drug therapy, pathology)