Acute Pancreatitis: An Unusual Extrapulmonary Manifestation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Cureus. 2022 May 16;14(5):e25052. doi: 10.7759/cureus.25052. eCollection 2022 May.

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a respiratory pathogen responsible for community-acquired atypical pneumonia. Apart from respiratory manifestations, other system involvement has also been reported. We present a case of interstitial pneumonia and a concurrent episode of acute pancreatitis in a young female who presented with fever, cough, vomiting, and epigastric pain. The abdominal evaluation revealed epigastric tenderness with no signs of organomegaly. Her complete metabolic profile was nonsignificant except for elevated serum lipase and amylase. Clinical, serological, and radiological features and detailed investigations confirmed the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and interstitial pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae in the absence of any other etiology. Her respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms improved rapidly after commencing clarithromycin, providing a possible link between M. pneumoniae and pancreatitis.

Keywords: acute pancreatitis; extrapulmonary symptoms; m. pneumoniae; mycoplasma pneumonia; mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Publication types

  • Case Reports