[Current aspects of infectious pathology in infants and fetuses]

Analysis of biopsy specimen obtained at autopsies performed in hospitals for children from 1981 to 1984 are presented, as well as the results of goal-directed studies of some infectious diseases. It is noted that at adequate morphological and laboratory examinations the frequency of the diagnosed infectious diseases is rather high revealing mainly combined infections. The frequency of acute respiratory infections is especially high, as it is found in 3/4 of the nonsurvivors. There are viral, bacterial, Mycoplasma-induced and other diseases among them. The data on frequency and specific morphological features of different etiologic groups of infection, as well as separate diseases are given. Acute intestinal infections were less frequently diagnosed (in 9.8% of cases), coli-infection being predominant and appearing as a complication of different severe somatic diseases. Sepsis occurred rather frequently, though its rate was gradually decreasing (from 11.1% to 5.3%). Infections with predominant intracanal generalization were rare. Meningococcemia, developing, as a rule, in the presence of generalized viral infections, occurred in 2.2% of cases. Meningitis and meningoencephalitis, more often bacterial ones, complicating congenital malformations, were found in 4.5% of cases. Intrauterine infections, in particular caused by Mycoplasmas and viruses (cytomegalic, herpetic and respiratory ones) were very often diagnosed. They were associated with the same type of placental damage. Chlamydiosis, evidently frequent, was almost unidentified. Bacterial intrauterine infections including listeriosis were rare.