Infection associated hemophagocytic syndrome: a report of 50 children.

Fifty children were diagnosed with infection associated hemophagocytic syndrome (IAHS) over the 10 year period from January 1988 through December 1997 at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Thailand. Their ages ranged from 2 months to 14 years (mean 4.14 years). There was no difference in sex. Bacterial, mycobacterial, viral, fungal and protozoa were the associated infections in some of these patients. Supportive with specific therapy for the underlying disease was administered aggressively in all patients. Intravenous immuneglobulin (IVIG) was given in 8 patients. Thirty-five patients (70%) died, mostly as a result of coagulopathy with multiple organ failure and opportunistic infections. Two patients developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia 25 days and 3 months after recovering from IAHS.