Open AccessSevere infectious acute respiratory failure mimicking COVID ‐19 in a healthy adolescent
Author(s) -
Hashimoto Kohei,
Kawaguchi Takako,
Yamasaki Kei,
Ikegami Hiroaki,
Kawanami Toshinori,
Yatera Kazuhiro
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
respirology case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2051-3380
DOI - 10.1002/rcr2.933
Subject(s) - medicine , pneumonia , respiratory failure , respiratory distress , extracorporeal membrane oxygenation , respiratory system , mycoplasma pneumoniae , anesthesia
A 15‐year‐old male presented with headache, high fever and respiratory distress. Chest computed tomography showed bilateral pneumonia, and antimicrobial therapy was initiated. However, his respiratory condition deteriorated, and he developed respiratory failure requiring intubation. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and 16S ribosomal RNA gene analysis were done from his intratracheal secretions to determine the causative pathogens, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae was detected. He was treated with appropriate antimicrobial therapy, systemic corticosteroid therapy and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. He also presented with pulmonary thromboembolism and was treated with anticoagulants, to which he responded well. This patient demonstrates the similarities between severe M . pneumoniae pneumonia with bilateral pneumonitis and thrombosis, and severe coronavirus disease 2019. Therefore, it is important to identify cases of bilateral pneumonia with severe respiratory dysfunction using multiplex PCR tests to provide appropriate medical management and therapeutic interventions.