[Severe apnea: an early sign of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in an HIV-negative infant].

A few reports in the medical literature suggest an association between Pneumocystis caring and apnea in small infants. This patient, a 1 month 20 days old, HIV negative, infant girl weighing 2,000 grams was admitted to hospital after presenting a severe episode of apnea with cyanosis and bradycardia. She progressively developed bronchopneumonia by P. carinii that required prolonged mechanical ventilation with high ventilatory parameters. The clinical course of this patient illustrates that apnea can be an early sign of P. carinii infection in small infants. Early diagnosis and specific therapy might prevent morbidity and mortality and also decrease the length of hospitalization.