Legionella and Pneumocystis pneumonias in asthmatic children on high doses of systemic steroids.
Asthma is increasingly treated as an inflammatory disease with inhaled and/or systemic corticosteroids. We report 3 cases of unusual pneumonias associated with high doses of oral steroids. Two patients contracted Legionella pneumonia and one patient contracted Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. With increasing usage, it is important for physicians to be aware of the possible infectious complications of high dose steroids. This report highlights the risk of corticosteroid treatment in asthma in predisposing to opportunistic infections that have not heretofore been readily associated with asthma.
Abernathy-Carver
K J
KJ
Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, CO 80206.
Fan
L L
LL
Boguniewicz
M
M
Larsen
G L
GL
Leung
D Y
DY
D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000187:drug effects; D007876:Legionellosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000209:etiology*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D011241:Prednisone; D008775:Methylprednisolone