Gastrointestinal histoplasmosis in children

Abstract

Three children with documented gastrointestinal histoplasmosis are presented and the pertinent literature reviewed. One of the patients had coexistent active histoplasmosis and coccidiomycosis. In each case operation was necessary for management of emergent complications. In two of the patients, the enteritis resembled Crohn's disease both grossly and radiographically. These cases demonstrate the need for considering histoplasmosis as a cause of abdominal complaints, especially in endemic areas. They also document the effectiveness of Amphotericin B in treatment of gastrointestinal histoplasmosis.