Persistent postpneumonic pneumatoceles in children.

Ten children who had developed pneumatoceles during the course of pneumonia are described. Seven of the ten patients had persistence of pneumatoceles for 12 months or more. There was no evidence of an underlying disorder in any of the patients, and all recovered completely without complications. The etiologic agent was identified in two of the ten cases as Staphylococcus aureus. In our experience, a delay in the resolution of pneumatoceles for a period of one or more years after an episode of pneumonia is not an unusual occurrence in normal healthy children.