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William E. Novotny, MD; Anupma Dixit, PhD

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2000;154:271-275.

Background  Exposure to indoor fungus growth and tobacco smoke has been epidemiologically linked to unexplained pulmonary hemorrhage in infants.

Objective  To describe the 40-day-old male infant who had been exposed to fungi for a discrete 2-week period followed by acute exposure to environmental tobacco smoke prior to development of a life-threatening pulmonary hemorrhage.

Patient and Methods  History and clinical evaluation of the infant immediately followed the pulmonary hemorrhage. Air and surface sampling for isolation and identification of fungal growth in the dwelling where the infant resided before the acute hemorrhage was accomplished when the homeowner returned from vacation 4 months after the clinical event.

Results  Two fungi associated with mycotoxin production were cultured from surface samples collected in the residence: Penicillium (possibly Penicillium purpurogenum) and a Trichoderma species. Stachybotrys atra was not isolated from air or surface samples. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure occurred over a discrete several-hour period prior to onset of the acute pulmonary hemorrhage.

Conclusions  Avoidance of unnecessary exposure of infants to fungus growth in water-damaged environments or exposure to tobacco smoke is prudent. Further investigation into the toxic effects of indoor fungi as causes of infantile pulmonary hemorrhage is warranted.

From the Section of Pediatric Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Pitt County Hospital/East Carolina Univesity, Greenville, NC (Dr Novotny); and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (Dr Dixit).

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