Trends in zygomycosis in children

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Priya A Prasad1, Ana M Vaughan, Theoklis E Zaoutis

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Mycoses
|October 11, 2011
PubMed

Insights

The incidence of zygomycosis (a serious fungal infection) in children did not significantly increase between 2003 and 2010. However, voriconazole use in hospitalized children rose significantly during this period.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Zygomycosis, also known as mucormycosis, presents a significant health risk with high morbidity and mortality in both pediatric and adult populations.
  • While adult zygomycosis incidence is rising, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, data on pediatric epidemiology remains scarce.
  • Understanding trends in pediatric zygomycosis is crucial for public health and clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze trends in the incidence and characteristics of zygomycosis among pediatric patients.
  • To investigate the epidemiology of zygomycosis in children from 2003 to 2010.
  • To examine changes in antifungal medication use, specifically voriconazole, during the study period.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database.
  • Inclusion of pediatric patients diagnosed with zygomycosis between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2010.
  • Collection and analysis of administrative data including diagnoses, demographics, underlying conditions, and clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

  • A total of 156 unique pediatric patients with zygomycosis were identified.
  • The prevalence of zygomycosis did not show a significant increase over the study period (P=0.284).
  • Malignancy was the most frequent underlying condition (58%), with over half of patients requiring intensive care. Voriconazole use significantly increased among hospitalized children (P=0.010).

Conclusions:

  • The incidence of zygomycosis in children did not significantly increase between 2003 and 2010.
  • Malignancy is a primary risk factor for zygomycosis in pediatric patients.
  • A notable rise in voriconazole utilization was observed in hospitalized children during the study timeframe.

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