Clinical presentation and outcome of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in Malawian children.

Background: Necropsy studies from Africa have shown that Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is common in infants with HIV infection. We aimed to describe the rate, clinical presentation, and outcome of PCP in young Malawian children with acute severe pneumonia.

Methods: Children aged between 2 months and 5 years who were in hospital with a diagnosis of severe pneumonia were admitted to a study ward for clinical monitoring.

Carriage of penicillin-resistant pneumococci in Malawian children.

In a prospective study of pneumococcal carriage in 200 Malawian children under 5 years of age, 47.5% were carriers. The carriage rate was highest in those aged 3-12 months and did not vary with family size, nor was it higher in those who had recently been admitted to hospital.