Bilateral Infiltrative Dacryoadenitis and Granulomatous Pneumonia in an 11-Year-Old Boy: A Case Report

Background

Bilateral dacryoadenitis is a rare inflammatory condition of the lacrimal gland, which, in case of insufficient treatment, might lead to cellulitis and orbital abscess formation (Derr C et al., J Emerg Trauma Shock 2012, 5(1):92–94). Infections are the most common cause of an acute dacryoadenitis in children and are either viral (mumps, measles, influenza, Epstein Barr, cytomegaly or herpes virus), or bacterial (Streptococcus pyogenes, Haemophilus influenza, Neisseria gonorrhea, Chlamydia trachomatis and Treponema pallidum) (Rai P et al., Med Channel 2009, 15:71–76, Srivastava V. Med J Armed Forces India 2000, 56:151–152). Dacryoadenitis may also originate from autoimmune diseases, such as granulomatosis with polyangitis, Graves’ disease and Sjogren’s syndrome or malignant diseases, such as lymphoma. There is need to exclude these underlying diseases in particular in cases of bilateral dacryoadenitis (Belanger C et al. Am J Ophthalmol 2010, 150(4):460–463).

This case report describes Mycoplasma pneumonia as potential trigger of bilateral dacryoadenitis and granulomatous pneumonia, a combination not yet reported in literature.