Pulmonary Coccidioidomycosis: A Case Report and Literature Review
Tadas Alčauskas,
Birutė Zablockienė,
Rolandas Zablockis,
Linas Svetikas,
Laura Bilotaitė,
Ligita Jančorienė
Affiliations
Tadas Alčauskas
Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M.K. Ciurlionio 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
Birutė Zablockienė
Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Dermatovenerology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University Faulty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M.K. Ciurlionio 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
Rolandas Zablockis
Clinic of Chest Diseases, Immunology and Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, M.K. Ciurlionio 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
Linas Svetikas
Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Dermatovenerology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University Faulty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M.K. Ciurlionio 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
Laura Bilotaitė
Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M.K. Ciurlionio 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
Ligita Jančorienė
Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Dermatovenerology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University Faulty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M.K. Ciurlionio 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
Coccidioidomycosis is an infectious disease caused by Coccidioides immitis or C. posadasii fungus. Humans usually get infected by inhaling spores risen from the soil. Although in 60 percent of cases symptoms are absent, remaining patients can develop various manifestations of the disease, from flu-like symptoms to severe dissemination or meningitis. In endemic regions (California, Arizona, Mexico, Central, and South America), pulmonary coccidioidomycosis causes 25% of community-acquired cases of pneumonia. We present the first registered case of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in Lithuania. Clinical presentation, pathogenesis, treatment options, and diagnostic alternatives are discussed.
