Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in infants

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), a serious complication of asthma, is thought to rarely afflict infants. We report three children less than 2 years of age in whom this disorder developed. The major criteria for the diagnosis include: (1) asthma, (2) recurrent pulmonary infiltrations with peripheral eosinophilia, (3) positive aspergillus skin tests at 15 minutes and at 4 to 6 hours, (4) serum precipitating antibodies to aspergillus, and (5) elevated serum IgE levels. Early diagnosis and treatment of ABPA in infants may prevent the ravages of the disease and help to sharpen our concepts of the course and immunopathogenesis.