Pneumococcal bacteremia associated with gingival lesions in infants

Five infants with fever, leukocytosis, and a cystic lesion superimposed on a swollen gingiva had pneumococcal bacteremia. Lesions were so characteristic that a presumptive diagnosis of pneumococcal bacteremia was made in the last three patients before confirmation by blood cultures. Infants who initially have these symptoms should be considered at risk for pneumococcal bacteremia.