title: Nontuberculous mycobacteria in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: Among 139 children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome at Children's Hospital of New Jersey, 20 had positive cultures for non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Eighty-five percent had Mycobacterium avium complex isolated and 70% had definite evidence of disseminated disease. Ninety-three percent had CD4 lymphocyte counts less than 100 cells/mm3 and 95% had met acquired immunodeficiency syndrome criteria before the time of first positive culture. Clinical findings included failure to gain weight, anorexia, fever, abdominal pain/tenderness and anemia. The median age at onset of symptoms was 46 months and the median time between onset of symptoms and positive culture was 9 months. Outcome for patients with positive cultures for nontuberculous mycobacteria was poor, with 75% of the children surviving for less than or equal to 10 months. Nontuberculous mycobacteria are increasingly important causes of morbidity and indirect mortality in human immunodeficiency-infected children. Children with severe immunodeficiency are at particular risk. In addition to M. avium complex, other species of nontuberculous mycobacteria may be involved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of New Jersey, Newark.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hoyt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oleske
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Connor
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000150:complications; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies