Funder
The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.
Abstract
In this case report we describe a case of pulmonary histoplasmosis in a healthy adult female living in Kentucky. The patient presented with two months history of poly-arthralgia and myalgia, intermittent dry cough, chest tightness, exertional dyspnea, malaise, fatigue and one week history of skin rash. She did not respond to broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and she also had extensive endocrine and rheumatologic work up that was negative. A diagnosis of histoplasmosis was established based on radiological findings as well as endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration cytology (EBUS-TBNA) of mediastinal lymph nodes demonstrating necrotizing granuloma with fungal stains positive for Histoplasma. Patient showed significant clinical improvement on antifungal treatment. Since symptoms of histoplasmosis are often similar to the symptoms of community acquired pneumonia, other lung infections or malignancy, our case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion and appropriate radiological, microbiology, and histologic evaluation especially in patients who live in or have traveled to areas endemic for histoplasmosis and are not responding to antibiotic therapy. Early diagnosis coupled with prompt initiation of antifungal treatment may lead to favorable outcomes.
DOI
10.18297/jri/vol2/iss2/8/
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Britto, Johnson
(2018)
"Pulmonary Histoplasmosis in a patient with Cough, Dyspnea, Pulmonary Nodule and Rheumatologic Manifestations: Case Report and Review,"
The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections: Vol. 2
:
Iss.
2
, Article 8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18297/jri/vol2/iss2/8/
Available at:
https://ir.library.louisville.edu/jri/vol2/iss2/8
Included in
Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Epidemiology Commons, Health Information Technology Commons, Influenza Humans Commons, Influenza Virus Vaccines Commons, International Public Health Commons, Translational Medical Research Commons
