Acute severe spinal cord dysfunction in a child with meningitis: Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae co-infection.
Tetraplegia developed abruptly in an 11-y-old with pneumococcal meningitis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple hyperintensities at the brainstem-spinal cord junction. Serological tests were positive for Mycoplasma pneumoniae (microparticle agglutination and specific IgMs). Erythromycin and dexamethasone were started promptly, and 10 d later the patient was discharged with normal neurological function.


CONCLUSIONS
Tetraplegia during the course of pneumococcal meningitis in an 11-y-old girl disappeared after treatment with ceftriaxone, erythromycin and dexamethasone.
Manteau
Celine
C
Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Mothers' and Children's Hospital, Nantes Teaching Hospital, Nantes, France.
Liet
Jean Michel
JM
Caillon
Jocelyne
J
M'Guyen
Sylvie
S
Quere
Marie Pierre
MP
Roze
Jean Christophe
JC
Gras-Le Guen
Christèle
C
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004917:Erythromycin; D003907:Dexamethasone