Children with PCP usually have fever, cough, and difficulty breathing because of the infection in the lungs. Children may die of PCP, especially if the infection is not diagnosed and treated quickly. The disease can be diagnosed by laboratory tests of body fluid from the lungs. The PCP organism might be spread from one person to another. Or it might be found in the environment such as in air or dust.
Most scientists believe that it is most likely spread in the air.
Children with HIV infection should get medical care to prevent PCP and other diseases. TMP-SMX is a combination of two antibiotic medicines. For PCP, TMP-SMX is used to prevent infection before it starts. TMP-SMX should be taken this early to prevent infection before it starts. This is because PCP is especially common in young babies who can die from PCP even before their doctors know they have HIV infection.