Fatal histoplasmosis in a non-HIV patient in French Guiana

J Mycol Med. 2012 Jun;22(2):189-91. doi: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2012.01.005. Epub 2012 Mar 21.

Abstract

Histoplasmosis is an endemic fungal infection that causes no symptoms or minor self-limited illnesses in most cases. Severe forms are commonly reported in patients with immunodeficiency disorders; histoplasmosis is considered to be an opportunistic infection in patients with AIDS. We report a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in a patient with no induced active suppression of the immune response. The infection was fulminant, and antifungal treatment was delayed because of a misdiagnosis of tuberculosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brazil / ethnology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / microbiology
  • Delayed Diagnosis
  • Diagnostic Errors*
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / etiology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • French Guiana
  • HIV Seronegativity
  • Histoplasma / isolation & purification
  • Histoplasmosis / complications
  • Histoplasmosis / diagnosis*
  • Histoplasmosis / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunocompetence
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / complications
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / diagnosis*
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Mining
  • Occupational Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Occupational Diseases / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / diagnosis

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Amphotericin B