2/2007Pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae associated with erythema multiforme – a case report

ANETA NITSCH-OSUCH (Katedra i Zakład Medycyny Rodzinnej z Oddziałem Klinicznym Chorób Wewnętrznych i Metabolicznych Akademii Medycznej w Warszawie;Kierownik: prof. dr hab. med. Kazimierz A. Wardyn )

Background
Atypical pathogens, including Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pn.) and Chlamydia pneumoniae play an important role in the etiology of community-acquired pneumonia. The course of the disease is generally mild, but severe complications are also possible. Despite typical pulmonary symptoms, extrapulmonary manifestation, including dermatological symptoms, are described.

Material and methods
We present a case history of a 20-year-old woman with atypical pneumonia caused by M. pn. The pneumonia was associated with dermatological symptoms diagnosed as erythema multiforme.

Results
The diagnosis of mycoplasmosis was based on microbiological tests: result of CF tests was 1 : 640. The discrepancy between mild clinical symptoms and spectacular inflammatory infiltrates in X-ray examination of the chest was also typical for mycoplasmosis. Both pulmonary and dermatological symptoms revealed after treatment with clarithromycin which lasted 21 days.

Key words: pneumonia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, erythema multiforme