Acute disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient

Histoplasmosis is a fungal disease caused by inhalation of Histoplasma capsulatum fungus. The disease does not normally affect immunocompetent individuals after a single, transient inhalation exposure. However, longer exposure may cause chronic or disseminated acute pulmonary infection. In immunocompromised patients, the infection is disseminated and severe. We report the case of a 13-year-old immunocompetent patient, presenting with fever, cough and dyspnea for one month. The chest X-ray and computed tomography scan revealed interstitial infiltrate and diffuse micronodules. The patient reported having had close and prolonged contact with birds. He was submitted to an open lung biopsy and the tissue culture was positive for Histoplasma capsulatum sp. He was treated with amphotericin B for 28 days, followed by treatment with itraconazole for 6 months, and there was complete resolution of the disease.

Histoplasmosis; Immunocompetence; Birds