Fungus
Coccidioidomycosis
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Coccidioidomycosis
, Coccidiomycosis, Coccidioides immitis
See Also
Fungal Lung Infection
Epidemiology
Important opportunistic infection in southwestern US
Pathophysiology
Infection with fungus Coccidioides immitis
Symptoms
Chills, weight loss
Productive cough
Chest Pain
Arthralgia
s
Signs
Fever
Cervical adenopathy
Skin lesions
Resemble
Erythema Nodosum
Lung
Pleural Effusion
Friction rub
Pulmonary rales
Lab
Sputum
KOH
Positive for fungal elements
Blood complement-fixing antibodies
Positive
Diagnosis
Coccidioidomycosis serology: IgM
IgM positive by third week in 90% of patients
Becomes negative 3 months after infection
Complement fixation of IgG
Low sensitivity, but high
Specificity
Skin Testing
(for epidemiologic studies)
Coccidioidin skin test
Spherulin skin test
Differential Diagnosis in HIV patients
PCP Pneumonia
Affected Organs
Lung
most commonly affected (similar to Pneumocystis)
Management
Disseminated disease
Amphotericin B
Palliative Therapy
Fluconazole
600-800 mg/day
Itraconazole
400 mg/day
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