Coccidioidomycosis in non-endemic areas: a case series

Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic infection caused by the soil fungus Coccidioides immitis, which is endemic to the south-western United States. Manifestations range from flu-like illness to pneumonia and septic shock. Diagnosis may be delayed or missed in non-endemic areas because of the low index o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Respiratory medicine 2001-04, Vol.95 (4), p.305-309
Main Authors: DESAI, S.A., MINAI, O.A., GORDON, S.M., O'NEIL, B., WIEDEMANN, H.P., ARROLIGA, A.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Coccidioidomycosis
Coccidioidomycosis - diagnosis
Coccidioidomycosis - etiology
Coccidioidomycosis - therapy
Endemic Diseases
Fatal Outcome
Female
Human mycoses
Humans
Infectious diseases
Lung Diseases, Fungal - diagnosis
Lung Diseases, Fungal - etiology
Lung Diseases, Fungal - therapy
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Mycoses
non-endemic area
Occupational Exposure
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Serologic Tests
Travel
Tropical mycoses
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic infection caused by the soil fungus Coccidioides immitis, which is endemic to the south-western United States. Manifestations range from flu-like illness to pneumonia and septic shock. Diagnosis may be delayed or missed in non-endemic areas because of the low index of suspicion. We describe a series of 23 patients with coccidioidomycosis at one institution in a non-endemic area. Diagnosis was often delayed. In two patients, the route of exposure could not be determined, but 20 patients had a history of residence or travel to endemic areas, and the remaining patient had an occupational history of exposure to fomites from an endemic region. Five patients were immunosuppressed. Most patients responded well to medical therapy, surgery, or both. Although coccidioidomycosis is rare in non-endemic areas, physicians must keep it in mind when evaluating patients who have traveled to endemic areas or who are immunosuppressed.
ISSN:0954-6111
1532-3064
DOI:10.1053/rmed.2000.1039