Generalized aspergillosis in an infant 18 days of age

A case of fatal primary aspergillosis in an 18-day-old infant is presented. The clinical course was deceptively benign and death was sudden. Necropsy revealed extensive pulmonary lesions with widely disseminated embolic foci. Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured from the lesions. The literature pertaining to primary aspergillosis in infancy and childhood is reviewed with special reference to the newborn period.