Disseminated Histoplasmosis without Pulmonary Involvement in an Immunocompetent Host - A Case Report

• Published in: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University journal Vol. 3; no. 1
• Main Authors: Ahmed, Shamim, Shazzad, Md Nahiduzzamane, Rahaman, Mohammad Ferdous Ur, Kader, Md Abdul, Azad, Md Abul Kalam, Haq, Syed Atiqul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University 16.07.2010
• Subjects: Bangladesh; disseminated histoplasmosis; histoplasma capsulatum; histoplasmosis; immunocompetent host
• ISSN: 2074-2908; 2224-7750
• DOI: 10.3329/bsmmuj.v3i1.5515

Histoplasmosis is a dimorphic fungal infection caused by histoplasma capsulatum. It is the most prevalent endemic mycosis in the United States, but now it is a disease of world wide occurrence. Most infections are asymptomatic or self-limited, some individuals develop acute pulmonary infections or severe and progressive disseminated infection. Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis occurs in about one in 2000 patients with acute infection. Besides lung it may affect skin, lymph nodes, GIT, CNS, adrenals, liver and spleen. The patient of disseminated histoplasmosis usually presents with fever, anorexia, weight loss, myalgia and manifestations according to organ involved. Here we described a 45 year-male who presented to us with fever, weight loss, generalized lymphadenopathy, growths in the oral cavity and chylous ascites. The particular interest of this paper is to present a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent host without pulmonary involvement, and to demonstrate the differences between this entity and other similarly presented diseases like disseminated tuberculosis, lymphoma and metastatic malignancy. Key words: histoplasmosis; disseminated histoplasmosis; histoplasma capsulatum; immunocompetent host; Bangladesh. DOI: 10.3329/bsmmuj.v3i1.5515 BSMMU J 2010; 3(1): 44-46