Fatal acute pulmonary aspergillosis in two children of one family.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is uncommon in man and is rare as a cause of death in children. When diffuse pulmonary infection with aspergillus has developed it has nearly always complicated a pre-existing disorder, either of the lungs themselves or one of a more generalized nature (Symmers, 1964). We present, therefore, an account of fatal pulmonary aspergillosis affecting a child and her infant sister, who had both previously been in normal health. The bacteriological investigation of the infected tissues and of the children's environment is also described.