Abstract
The number of fungal infections at any given time in Argentina is not known. Here we estimate the burden of serious fungal infections in Argentina for the first time. Specific population statistics were searched from multiple sources, local literature was identified, and estimates made. Some additional data were sourced from the Ministry of Health, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) program, and national haematology and transplant societies. Argentina has a population of 43.8 million, with 25% of this total being children under 15 years. The predicted candidemia annual incidence is 2193 cases, with 50% occurring in the ICU. At a 6% prevalence rate, an estimated 593,695 women suffer from recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. Invasive aspergillosis is relatively common because of high smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rates, with 268 cases in immunocompromised patients and another 1938 in the 168,000 COPD patients admitted to hospital. Asthma is also common, affecting 14% of adults, and so allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and severe asthma with fungal sensitization (SAFS) are major problems. An estimated 432 cases of cryptococcal meningitis (CM)—90% of them in AIDS patients—and 1177 cases of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) occur each year. The estimated annual case number of disseminated histoplasmosis is 404 in AIDS patients, almost as frequent as CM. Paracoccidioidomycosis annual incidence is estimated at 219, and coccidioidomycosis at 16 cases. At least 881,023 people (>2.01%) in Argentina are affected by a serious fungal disease annually, with considerable morbidity and mortality.
Highlights
Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world and the second-largest country in LatinAmerica
The number of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) was obtained from epidemiological surveillance of AIDS in Argentina published in the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) [8] and from the Argentina
There are few epidemiology papers that have directly reported incidence, prevalence, or fungal infection rates, so every estimate is based on previously published data
Summary
It has a wide range of climates and several endemic fungal diseases are present. Fungal disease in humans ranges from trivial (tinea pedís between the toes) to usually fatal (cerebral aspergillosis and mucormycosis). We have adopted the term “serious fungal disease” to encompass those entities that are often fatal (especially if the diagnosis is missed and treatment not given) as well as those with substantial morbidity such as fungal keratitis, tinea capitis, recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (rVVC), allergic fungal sinusitis, and fungal asthma (allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and severe asthma with fungal sensitization (SAFS)). As fungal diseases are not reportable, exact data are not available and the current number of fungal infections occurring each year in Argentina is not known. In Argentina there are few published papers on the incidence and prevalence of some life-threatening fungal disease entities
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
