SYSTEMIC CANDIDIASIS WITH ACUTE EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS INFECTION

Systemic Candida infections are usually encountered as opportunistic i nfections in a setting of immunologic depression. Sepsis or arthritis due to Candida is not expected in healthy people. Epstein-Barr virus m ay infect B cells, but does not cause immunosuppression of any clinica l significance. As far as we know, invasive non-albicans Candida infec tion complicating Epstein-Barr virus infection has not been reported i n previously healthy children. In this report, two previously healthy children, one with sepsis due to Candida species and the other sepsis and arthritis due to Candida parapsilosis are described. Both patients were male and were aged 2 and 9 y. The diagnosis was confirmed by cul ture. Both children also had coincidental acute Epstein-Barr virus inf ection, confirmed by Epstein-Barr virus Viral capside antigen-IgM. The y were both cured with fluconazole given for 21 days and 48 days, resp ectively.