Only 2 neonates with transplacentally or perinatally acquired (congenital) babesiosis have been reported. We describe a probable third congenital case of babesiosis in a 26-day-old infant; transmission was determined on the basis of a blood smear from the infant (15% parasitemia) and serologic results from the infant and mother.

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Summary Suppressor‐cell activity of Concanavalin‐A‐stimulated lymphocytes was studied in allergic patients by inhibition of one‐way mixed lymphocyte culture reactions before and after allergy immunotherapy. This activity was compared with twelve healthy controls. In preliminary experiments, six out of eight allergic patients had no detectable T suppressor activity. In the second prospective group, eight out of eleven patients had much reduced suppressor‐cell activity before immunotherapy, and seven out of eleven patients had much reduced activity after immunotherapy. The data suggest that non‐specific T suppressor‐cell activity is reduced in allergic patients but immunotherapy does not restore such activity.

Because aspirin (ASA) is often reported to have an adverse effect on pulmonary function in children with chronic asthma, acetaminophen is commonly used as an ASA substitute in these children. To study acetaminophen effects on pulmonary functions, double-blind, oral challenges of ASA (600 mg), acetaminophen (600 mg), or lactose were administered on separate days to 25 chronic asthmatics, ten boys and 15 girls, ranging in age from 8 to 18 years (mean age ± 1 SD: 12.5 ± 2.8 years). No patient had a past history of adverse reactions to either drug. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), maximal mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF25-75), forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), and flow volume curves were measured at base line and ½, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after ingestion of drug or placebo. Persistent decreases from base line FEV1 (> 20%) or FEF25-75 (> 30%) occurred in four ASA- and two acetaminophen-challenged patients. One ASA-sensitive patient was placebo intolerant; another reacted to acetaminophen. The acetaminophen responses were of less intensity than the ASA responses. Analysis of group mean pulmonary function responses to ASA, acetaminophen, and lactose showed no significant difference among the three agents at any time. Aspirin should be used cautiously in asthmatic children. Acetaminophen appears to be an adequate, although not completely, innocuous ASA substitute.

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