EC Paediatrics

Introduction: Viral infections are the most frequent causes of pneumonia in children. In fact, bacterial pneumonia accounts for the majority of complex pneumonia. Compared to the adult population, Mycoplasma pneumonia is one of the most frequent causes of respiratory tract infections in children. 10 - 40% of community-acquired pneumonia cases reported worldwide is caused by Mycoplasma pneumonia. [1]. Mycoplasma pneumoniae has both pulmonary and extra pulmonary manifestations.

Case Presentation: We describe a child know case of trisomy 21 who had high fever, inflammatory signs, lymphocytosis, and a left side pleural effusion complicated by Mycoplasma pneumonia, which was identified by PCR from a respiratory virus panel. The child also had URTI symptoms. The child did not respond well to the initial treatment (Ceftriaxone, Oseltamivir and Clarithromycin). The child then responded favorably to the therapy's escalation, including the use of antibiotics (Piperacillin -Tazobactam, Vancomycin and Clarithromycin), non-invasive ventilation, and inotropic support.

Conclusion: It is not commonly that Mycoplasma pneumonia complicated by pleural effusion described worldwide in children. A persistent high-grade fever, a high CRP, a normal WBC count, and lymphocytosis are symptoms of Mycoplasma pneumonia. In few cases, radiological changes will not reflect severity of illness in children.

Keywords: Community Acquired Pneumonia; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Pleural Effusion; Complications

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