Fungal Infections in Children

Most fungal infections occur in healthy children and cause self-limited, skin and mucous membrane disease. In contrast, immunocompromised and hospitalized children can suffer from invasive fungal infections that result in significant morbidity and mortality. Many of the features of invasive fungal disease are shared between adults and children. However, there are important age-related differences in disease. This is especially true for premature neonates and children with primary immunodeficiencies. In this article, we review invasive fungal infections due to Candida and Aspergillus spp., the most common causes of invasive fungal diseases in children, with a special focus on the unique characteristics of pediatric disease.