Mycoplasma pneumoniae as a cause of vulvar ulcers in a non-sexually active girl: a case report

• Main Authors: Maria G. Koliou, Talia Kakourou, Jan Richter, Christina Christodoulou, Elpidoforos S. Soteriades
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2017-07-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Case Reports
• Subjects: Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Acute vulvar ulcers; Non-sexually active females; Cyprus
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13256-017-1345-9

Abstract Background Non-sexually active young females very rarely develop genital ulcers. Such ulcers pose a diagnostic challenge as well as physical and emotional distress for patients and family; therefore, the search for their etiology requires exhaustive investigation. Several viruses such as Epstein–Barr virus have been associated with this entity; however, Mycoplasma pneumoniae has rarely been linked to such ulcers in the literature. We present a case of vulvar ulcers in a non-sexually active young girl during the course of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Case presentation A 10-year-old non-sexually active girl of cypriot origin presented at a hospital with fever, dry cough, and acute vulvar ulcers. Laboratory investigations as well as imaging studies revealed Mycoplasma pneumoniae as the cause of her pneumonia and acute vulvar ulcers. Conclusions Although a rare cause of vulvar ulcers, Mycoplasma pneumoniae should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute vulvar ulcers coexisting with respiratory symptoms.