title: Unsuspected Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and vertically acquired HIV infection in infants requiring intensive care.
abstract: When an infant develops acute respiratory failure of sufficient severity to necessitate supportive mechanical ventilation a cause should always be sought. A chest radiograph showing predominantly interstitial lung disease and an infant's failure to respond to standard antibiotic treatment are indications for non-bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage. If P carinii pneumonia is diagnosed a congenital immunodeficiency should be sought and the parents counselled about HIV infection. Earlier investigation may be indicated by features of immunodeficiency when taking a history, performing a general examination, or analysing the results of basic haematological testing.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital for Sick Children, London.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Tasker
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Novelli
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy