Pneumocystis pneumonia can occur in young infants. The infection may be serious or it may appear insignificant. It may be the first indication of an underlying problem in the patient.
Risk factors for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in an infant:
(1) primary immunodeficiency
(2) transient hypogammaglobulinemia
(3) therapy with corticosteroids
(4) congenital HIV infection
(5) cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
(6) cystic fibrosis
(7) close contact with someone with Pneumocystis, either as an infection or as a carrier
An immunocompetent infant without known risk factors may become infected with Pneumocystis. This may be manifest as a transient acute upper respiratory tract infection or atypical pneumonia.
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