MYCOPLASMA-PNEUMONIAE INFECTION AND NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE

The cases are reported of 13 children seen over a 22 month period who presented with a variety of acute neurological illnesses associated wi th Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Although presentation with a decre ased level of consciousness or seizures was common, psychosis, hemipar esis, cranial nerve palsies, and Guillain-Barre syndrome were also see n. In contrast with published reports, only one child had an associate d chest infection. Although some children have been left with residual disability, most have made a complete recovery. In this recent experi ence, M pneumoniae is a not rare cause of neurological illness in chil dhood and may present in unusual ways.