Abstract
BackgroundHistoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungus predominately found in soils enriched with bird and bat excreta. Although several cases of histoplasmosis have been reported in India, diagnosis using cytology has been done in very few cases.Case presentationWe report here a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in a 46-year-old Indian man.ConclusionSkin scrape cytology is a simple, safe, and rapid technique to establish the initial diagnosis, thus promoting early treatment and favorable outcome, in cutaneous fungal infections.
Highlights
Histoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungus predominately found in soils enriched with bird and bat excreta
In India, endemic cases of histoplasmosis have been reported in West Bengal and sporadic cases have been reported in southern India
We report a rare case of disseminated histoplasmosis in an immune-competent patient
Summary
Histoplasmosis is an opportunistic fungal infection caused by inhalation of the microconidia (the mold form) of Histoplasma. They are found in soil and bird droppings. Case presentation A 46-year-old Indian man came to our hospital with complaints of fever and weight loss over the previous 5 months, multiple reddish papules for 2 months and dry cough for 1 month. Lactophenol cotton blue stain of isolated mold showed thick-walled microconidia and macrocoinida with long septate hypae (Fig. 2f ). Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy revealed features of histoplasmosis. He was treated with amphotericin B for 2 weeks and currently under maintenance medication of itraconazole and is doing well in 6 months of follow-up
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