Opportunistic infections in pediatric HIV infection: a study of 74 autopsy cases from Latin America. The Latin American AIDS Pathology Study Group

Pediatr Pathol Lab Med. 1997 Jul-Aug;17(4):569-76.

Abstract

The present report describes opportunistic infections found at 74 autopsies of pediatric HIV/AIDS patients performed at several hospitals in Latin American countries. Fungal infections were the most common (53 cases), Candida sp. (39.18%) and Pneumocystis carinii (20.27%) being the most frequently recognized. Other fungal diseases included histoplasmosis, aspergillosis, and cryptococcosis. Viral infections were present in 31 cases, 38.7% being due to cytomegalovirus. Other viruses recognized included herpes simplex and adenovirus. Additional opportunistic infections were due to Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, toxoplasmosis, and tuberculosis. Nonspecific bacterial bronchopneumonia was present in 11 cases. Cytomegalovirus and P. carinii coinfection was the most common association found. In this series patients died at a younger age (72% at or younger than 1 year old) and there was a slightly higher number of cases of histoplasmosis and brain toxoplasmosis than in other previously published series of infants and children.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / pathology*
  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Latin America / epidemiology
  • Male