Measles Giant Cell Pneumonia in Two Children with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

Viral infections are a serious threat to the child receiving treatment for malignant disease. While effective therapy is available for infections with varicella zoster, herpes simplex and cytomegalus virus, measles remains a major obstacle. Immunocompromised children who contract measles almost invariable have severe complications, but often have few or none of the usual clinical features. In particular, the rash may be mild, atypical or absent. There is a high incidence of severe pneumonitis with a mortality reported as high as 36% overall [1] and 90%-100% if the rash and Koplik’s spots are absent and assisted ventilation is required [1,2]. Treatment in the past has been unsatisfactory. Recently intravenous Ribavirin therapy has been introduced with promising early results [3].