Corticosteroids in the treatment of severe mycoplasma encephalitis in children.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To report an unusual case of mycoplasma-associated encephalitis that responded to corticosteroid therapy and relapsed after cessation.

DESIGN:

Clinical case report.

SETTING:

Tertiary care pediatric intensive care unit.

PATIENT:

A single patient admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit.

INTERVENTIONS:

Intravenous corticosteroids and antibiotics.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

Resolution of neurologic symptoms with initial steroid therapy, relapse after withdrawal of steroids, and resolution again with re-institution of steroid therapy.

CONCLUSIONS:

Encephalitis is a well-recognized and potentially severe complication of mycoplasma infections. Treatment with corticosteroids has been proposed for this illness, but experience with this therapy is limited to case reports and small series; neither efficacy nor appropriate courses of treatment are well established. The relapsing course of this patient, along with a review of prior reported cases, suggests that corticosteroids may be beneficial for mycoplasma encephalitis, that moderate doses may be sufficient, and that consideration should be given to a prolonged tapering course when these medications are used for this illness.

• Authors: Todd C Carpenter
• Journal: Critical care medicine (Crit Care Med) Vol. 30 Issue 4 Pg. 925-7 (Apr 2002) ISSN: 0090-3493 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11940772 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adrenal Cortex Hormones
• Methylprednisolone

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adrenal Cortex Hormones (therapeutic use)
• Encephalitis (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Methylprednisolone (therapeutic use)
• Mycoplasma Infections (drug therapy)