[Pulmonary infections in children. I -- pneumonia due to Legionella pneumophila].

Pneumonia due to L. pneumophila occurs frequently in children even though "legionnaires' disease" in adults in usual. The authors show a literary scientific review of almost one hundred cases, sporadic generally, in childhood. In children legionnaires' disease remembers the adults infection, beginning with bronchiolitis. The extrarespiratory symptoms appears more frequently in adults. Chest roentgenograms obtained early reveal patchy infiltrates that become nodular areas of consolidation bilateral also, with pleural effusion. In children prognosis is poor (exitus in 15 about 97 described cases). The infection responds to erythromycin; it is administered intravenously, but oral treatment may also be used.