Two distinct molecular patterns of meningoencephalitis due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children: 2 cases and review of the literature

We describe two pediatric clinical cases presenting with seizures, neurological signs and symptoms asso- ciated with meningoencephalitis due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. The patients developed the disease after an infection of the upper airways, which led to critical CNS complications. In the first case, seizures appeared to coincide with the respiratory symptoms, while in the second case seizures appeared subsequently, almost 2 weeks after the respiratory symptoms. In the present study we report and speculate ontwo different pathogenic pathways of CNS involvement related to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, namely direct or indirect.