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Blastomycosis

Also called North American blastomycosis and Gilchrist's disease, blastomycosis is a fungal infection that usually affects the lungs and produces bronchopneumonia. During the chronic stage of illness, the disease may disseminate through the blood and cause skin disorders (most commonly), osteomyelitis, genitourinary (GU) disorders, and central nervous system (CNS) disorders (rarely). In contrast to other fungal diseases, it seldom acts as an opportunistic infection.

Blastomycosis is found in North America (where Blastomyces dermatitidis normally inhabits the soil). Sporadic cases have been reported in Africa.

The incubation period ranges from weeks to months. Untreated blastomycosis is slowly progressive and usually fatal, although spontaneous remission may occur. The mortality rate is 15% in appropriately treated cases.

Causes

Infection occurs by breathing in the spores that become airborne when contaminated soil or wood is disturbed. Humans and animals such as dogs, rats and cats may become infected. The disease is rarely transmitted from human-to-human or animal-to-human. Very rarely, infection via the skin may occur.

Symptoms and Signs

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sweating
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill-feeling (malaise)
  • Weight loss
  • Joint stiffness and joint pain
  • Muscle stiffness and pain
  • Skin lesions
  • Chest pain
  • Diagnostic tests

    Accurate diagnosis of blastomycosis requires the following:

    • A culture of B. dermatitidis from skin lesions, pus, sputum, or pulmonary secretions.
    • Microscopic examination of tissue biopsy from the skin or the lungs or of bronchial washings, sputum, or pus.
    • Complement fixation testing (a high titer in extrapulmonary disease suggests a poor prognosis but isn't conclusive).
    • Immunodiffusion testing to detect antibodies for the A and B antigen of blastomycosis.
    • Suspected pulmonary blastomycosis also requires a chest X-ray, which may show pulmonary infiltrates.

    Other abnormal laboratory findings include an increased white blood cell count, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, slightly increased serum globulin levels, mild normochromic anemia and, with bone lesions, increased alkaline phosphatase levels.

    Treatment

    Amphotericin B is used to treat all patients with rapidly progressive infections, severe illness, or meningitis. Itraconazole is used to treat patients with mild to moderately severe indolent non-meningeal blastomycosis, and ketoconazole is the alternative treatment.

    Prevention

    Avoiding travel to areas where the infection is known to occur may help prevent exposure to the fungus, but this may not always be possible.

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