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Coccidioidin skin testing during pregnancy and in infants and children

R COHEN, R BURNIP

    California Medicine
    |January 1, 1950
    PubMed

    Insights

    Coccidioidal infection is not passed from mother to baby during birth. However, this study found that infants can contract coccidioidomycosis (fungal infection) as early as one month old.

    Area of Science:

    • Medical Mycology
    • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
    • Epidemiology

    Background:

    • Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection endemic to certain regions.
    • Understanding transmission routes in newborns and young children is crucial for public health.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the congenital transmission of coccidioidal infection.
    • To determine the earliest age of acquisition for coccidioidal infection in infants and children.

    Main Methods:

    • A study involving 220 newborn infants in an endemic area.
    • Skin testing was performed on 595 infants and children across different age groups.

    Main Results:

    • No evidence of congenital transmission of coccidioidal infection was found in newborns.
    • Coccidioidal infection was detected in infants as young as one month old.
    • Infection incidence increased with age in the studied pediatric population.

    Conclusions:

    • Congenital transmission of coccidioidomycosis is unlikely.
    • Early childhood acquisition of coccidioidal infection is possible, highlighting the need for early diagnostic considerations.

    Keywords:
    COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS

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