Chlamydial pneumonia of infancy in siblings.

Abstract

We describe two brothers born 16 months apart who were hospitalized with culture-proved chlamydial pneumonia of infancy due to the same immunotype of Chlamydia trachomatis. Presumably the mother had either been chronically infected or had been reinfected. Chlamydial pneumonia of infancy is a preventable disease if genital infection in pregnant women is diagnosed and treated. However, if pregnant women at high risk are not screened for C. trachomatis, multiple offspring may acquire the infection and develop serious perinatal chlamydial disease.