[Meningoencephalitis after Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection].

A 15 year-old boy developed meningoencephalitis two weeks after onset of a respiratory tract infection caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Central nervous complications are seen in 2-7% of patients hospitalized for M pneumoniae infection. Meningoencephalitis, meningitis, ataxia, polyradiculitis, psychosis and a few cases of apoplexy have been reported. In clinical practice one should be aware of M pneumoniae in the differential diagnosis of patients with suspected microbiologically induced central nervous complications. The pathogenetic aspects and prognosis are briefly discussed.