Acute pulmonary histoplasmosis related to occupational roofing: A case report of two brothers

Document Type : Case report

Authors

1 Department of Internal Medicine, Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America

2 Trihealth Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America

3 School of Medicine, Peruvian University of Applied Sciences, Lima, Peru

4 School of Medicine, Scientific University of the South, Lima, Peru

10.18502/cmm.7.4.8409

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Histoplasma capsulatum is the cause of a prevalent fungal disease in certain regions in the United States of America, like Ohio and the Mississippi River. Its clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic to life-threatening diseases,according to the immune system. A definitive diagnosis is made by biopsy.
Case report: Two middle-aged brothers presented with a nine-day history of severe progressive dyspnea. Both were living in Cincinnati, Ohio, and encountered bird droppings 7 days prior to symptoms while working on a roofing project. It should be mentioned that they were not wearing masks. After extensive testing, they were diagnosed with acute pulmonary histoplasmosis. Both were successfully treated with azole-derivative fungal therapy.
Conclusion: This is the first case of histoplasmosis acquired through occupational exposure related to roofing and is unique given the two patients were siblings
 

Keywords


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