Je. Fergie et al., INTRATHORACIC MYCOBACTERIUM-AVIUM COMPLEX INFECTION IN IMMUNOCOMPETENT CHILDREN - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW, Clinical infectious diseases, 24(2), 1997, pp. 250-253
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.