INTRATHORACIC MYCOBACTERIUM-AVIUM COMPLEX INFECTION IN IMMUNOCOMPETENT CHILDREN - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection is a rarely recognized cau se of intrathoracic infection in immunocompetent children, The inciden ce of this disease is unknown but is likely underestimated among child ren in whom MAC infection is not usually considered. An increase in th e number of cases of MAC infection in adults has been noted since the late 1970s, The number of these cases in children with AIDS has also i ncreased. There are currently no guidelines for the treatment of these children. We describe a previously healthy 14-month-old boy with a me diastinal mass for whom tuberculosis was initially diagnosed; subseque ntly, biopsy-proven infection with MAC was demonstrated. He received n o specific therapy after surgical excision of his intrathoracic mass a nd has done well since. We reviewed eight additional cases of intratho racic nontuberculous mycobacteria infection in children that were repo rted from 1979 to 1994 and found excellent outcomes for seven immunoco mpetent children who received diverse methods of treatment.