Disseminated Histoplasmosis in a 13-year-old girl: a case report

Background: Disseminated histoplasmosis is a rare fungal infection and most documented cases are in immunecompromised individuals such as those with acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome. Objective: To describe a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in an adolescent girl. Method: We report a case of di...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:African health sciences 2013-01, Vol.13 (2), p.518-521
Main Authors: Ubesie, A C, Okafo, O C, Ibeziako, N S, Onukwuli, V O, Mbanefo, N R, Uzoigwe, J C, Bede, C, Ibe, B C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescents
Autopsy
Case studies
Diagnosis, Differential
Diagnostics
Disseminated histoplasmosis
Fatal Outcome
Female
Girls
Health and Medicine
Histoplasmosis - diagnosis
Humans
immune-competent, adolescent girl, Enugu
Medical disorders
Nigeria
Original
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Summary:Background: Disseminated histoplasmosis is a rare fungal infection and most documented cases are in immunecompromised individuals such as those with acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome. Objective: To describe a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in an adolescent girl. Method: We report a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in a 13-year-old adolescent girl. She was admitted for 16 days because of neck masses of 3 years duration, generalized body swelling of 3 months and reduction in urinary output of 2 months. She tested negative for human immunodeficiency virus antibodies. Result: An autopsy was performed because a definitive diagnosis could not be made while the patient was still alive. The autopsy revealed central caseating areas in the lymph nodes and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. The periodic acid-Schiff staining technique for tissues showed viable yeast cells suggestive of histoplasmosis. Zeihl-Neelsen's staining for mycobacteria tuberculosis was negative. Conclusion: Undiagnosed case of disseminated histoplasmosis while the patient was alive is being reported in a 13-yearold girl. Disseminated histoplasmosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis of childhood chronic infections and malignancies as in Nigeria.
ISSN:1680-6905
1729-0503
1680-6905
DOI:10.4314/ahs.v13i2.45