ABSTRACT
Measles is a highly infectious virus that attacks almost all susciptible individuals. In both the prevaccination and postvaccination areas, severe illness has been associated with the following factors : young age, malnutrition, crowded conditions, unvaccinated status, congenital or acquired immune deficiency, and coexistence of other severe infections. Underlying diseases or conditions related to the provocation of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonitis have included exhausted infants due to chronic malnutrition as well as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS), malignancies, congenital immune deficiency disorders, and organ transplantation. We experienced a 10-year-old male patient with long-lasting fever and progressive dry coughing, since 20 days prior to the transfer to our hospital. In the local pediatric center he was diagnosed as measles pneumonia with chronic malnutritional state due to poor oral feeding and parenteral nutritional support for a long time. At admission, physical findings were slightly dehydrated tongue, fading rash on his face and trunk, tachypea, mild dyspnea, and subcutaneous emphysema on his neck and chest. Subcutaneous emphysema was progressive and pneumomediastinum occured and then a chest tube was inserted on his thorax cavity. Stupum culture for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonitis was positive on hospital day 8. He was treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and fully recovered and discharged on hospital day 29.