Pulmonary involvement with cytomegalovirus infections in children

Abstract

Among 40 hospitalized infants and children with cytomegalovirus infection, 14 (35%) had interstitial pneumonitis, 4 (10%) had wheezing or tachypnea but no x-ray evidence of classical interstitial pneumonia, the remaining 22 (55%) were free of pulmonary involvement. Most patients had tachypnea and a nonproductive cough of varying durations: those with underlying pulmonary pathology tended to have persistent and prolonged respiratory symptoms. Mortality and severity of lung disease were related to the underlying immunodeficiency or concomitant pulmonary process.