Abstract
Pneumocystis carinii may be one of the etiologic factors of pneumonia in neonates. Of 258 neonates enrolled in a prospective study of neonate pneumonia 57 (22%) had evidence of Pn.c infection. Diagnosis was based on patients history, clinical signs, chest roentgenogram, blood gas examination, serologic tests detecting the patients specific fluorescent IgM and IgG antibodies and cytologic examination of tracheal lavage performed in 14 cases showing 100% correlation with the serologic tests. Patients were hospitalised at mean age of 5 days (range 1-20) and their illness was characterised by its afebrile course, presentation in crisis with severe respiratory distress, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates with hyperaeration. Treatment with Lomidine or Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxasole, in most severe cases with both drugs, was associated with rapid improvement. None of the patients died. These results indicate that Pn.c. may be an important cause of pneumonitis in neonates. An early diagnosis results in full therapeutical success. Considering the age of the patients congenital Pn.c. pneumonia cannot be excluded.
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Rowecka-Trzebicka, K., Kassur-Siemieska, B., Dobrzaska, A. et al. 65 PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII PNEUMONIA IN NEONATES. Pediatr Res 24, 271 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198808000-00091
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198808000-00091