Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Children with AIDS

The incidence of pneumothorax in HIV-infected children has not been reported. In adults with AIDS, pneumothorax has been described exclusively in association with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). We report the cases of three children with AIDS, one with lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis (LIP) without evidence of PCP and two with PCP, all of whom developed spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). On presentation, none of the children had any risk factors for the development of pneumothorax, but all had radiographic evidence of subpleural cystic lesions and bilateral pleural adhesions. None of the patients responded to conservative medical management, which included chest tube thoracostomy and chemical pleurodesis. Two patients underwent pleurectomy that resulted in resolution of the pneumothorax. Both patients with PCP who developed pneumothorax died, but the patient with LIP and SP has had no recurrences of any serious respiratory problems 3 years after pleurectomy and excision of the intrathoracic cysts.