Measles Pneumonia in a Newborn

Abstract

We report a 21-day-oldpreterm infant who had severe respiratory distress of 6 days' duration and whose lungs revealed a giant cell pneumonia at necropsy. Measles antigen was demonstrated in mononuclear and multinucleated epithelial cells of the lung by immunoperoxidase staining. We recommend the immunostaming procedure to differentiate measles from other viruses, such as parainfluenza 2 or 3, and respiratory syncytial virus, all of which may produce giant cell pneumonias.

Key Words:

• measles pneumonia
• newborn