[Cutaneous vasculitis revealing a Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection].
BACKGROUND
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a bacterial agent that must be evoked when confronted with cutaneous vasculitis, notably within a context of fever and inflammation, and despite the absence of respiratory symptoms.


METHODS
A young 16 year-old boy was hospitalised for cutaneous vasculitis with fever but without respiratory symptoms. A recent M. pneumoniae sero-conversion was revealed.


CONCLUSIONS
M. pneumoniae is an intra-cellular pathogen responsible for 20 to 35% of community-acquired pneumonia in adults. The absence of respiratory symptoms in M. pneumoniae infection is not uncommon. Extra-pulmonary complications of M. pneumoniae infections are frequent and varied, notably dermatological. Cutaneous vasculitis associated with M. pneumoniae is seldom found in the medical literature. It is reported as immune-complex -mediated vasculitis or Henoch-Schonlein purpura. Cutaneous eruptions are dominated by maculo-papular rashes and multiform erythema.
Orlandini
Vincent
V
Service de dermatologie, Hôpital St Louis, Paris (75). vincent.orlandini@chu-bordeaux.fr
Dega
Hervé
H
Dubertret
Louis
L
D000293:Adolescent; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology*