Non-candidal infections in children with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMCC) is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent and recurrent Candida albicans infections of the mucous membranes and skin often associated with immunodeficiency. In order to gain insight into the frequency and severity of non-candidal infections in children with CMCC, four patients with CMCC are described in detail and 60 previously reported cases are reviewed. Fifty percent of children with CMCC had significant infections with other fungi, bacteria and viruses. Recurrent bacterial pneumonias and bronchiectasis were a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In addition, there were a large number of infections, in both the lung and other sites, due to opportunistic organisms. Thus the clincial syndrome of CMCC includes not only mucocutaneous candidiasis, endocrine failure and autoimmune phenomena, but patients with CMCC also show a remarkable susceptibility to non-candidal infections. These non-candidal infections represent a serious cause of morbidity for patients with CMCC.