Rash and mucositis caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae may be confused with allergic conditions: a case report

Do Thi Dai Trang, Nguyen Van Lam, Duong Thị Hong Van

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Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is a common cause of respiratory infections, some cases have extrapulmonary manifestations. Rash and mucositis caused by M. pneumoniae (Mycoplasma pneumoniae induced rash and mucositis - MIRM) is an entity and needs to differ with other allergic conditions such as Stevens - Johnson (SJS), Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and Erythema multiforme (EM). MIRM is characterized by cough, fever, muscosal lesions in at least two sites, and minor/or no skin lesions. Most of the report cases occurred in children, more prevalent in boys than girls. We report a 4 - years - old boy who was diagnosed with MIRM according to MIRM criteria. The child was initially treated with azithromycin and corticosteroids with slow improvement of fever, cough, dyspnea, mucositis, and skin lesions. With severe MIRM manifestation, we used intravenous Levofloxacin and corticosteroids and the child improved after one week of treatment. Conclusion: In patients with with skin and mucosal lesions, the physicians need to carefully review the medical history and examine patients to indentify the lesions in order to differentiate with other allergic conditions.

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References

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