[Congenital candida infections]

Congenital candida infection is a rare disease, although the incidence of candida vaginitis during pregnancy is high. We report on five cases each showing patterns considered typical for candida infection. The infective agent can cause chorioamnionitis even in the presence of intact fetal membranes. An intrauterine device (IUD) has been proved to be a risk factor for a congenital candida infection. The pathogenetic significance of contamination with candida for the fetus appears to depend largely on gestational age. A premature infant with a birth-weight less than 1500 g presented with bilateral candida endophthalmitis which was cured by intravenous Fluconazole therapy. Another premature infant weighing 800 g at birth developed a systemic candida infection. The other three more mature infants had milder symptoms, two of them presented with cutaneous candidiasis.

Oral lesions in children born to HIV-1 positive women

A cohort of 69 children born to HIV-1 positive women was studied to evaluate types, prevalences and relationships to clinical stages of HIV-1-related oral lesions. In addition, relationships among C. albicans biotypes, clinical features of oral candidiasis and HIV-1 disease were investigated. C. albicans biotypes did not correlate with clinical features of oral lesions, disease stages and CD4+ lymphocyte count. Of 8 patients with recurrent oral candidiasis, 4 changed clinical features and 5 changed biotype. Our study pointed out the high frequency (28.9%) of oral lesions, especially caused by fungi and the importance of the examination of the oral cavity in children born to HIV-1 positive women.