Disseminated coccidioidomycosis in an immunocompetent person living in new York City
Chuang, A.; Thomas, R.; Hoffman, R.S.
Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the new York Academy of Medicine 82(2): 339-345
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 1099-3460 PMID: 15890762 DOI: 10.1093/jurban/jti057Document Number: 257315
Coccidioidomycosis is a disease caused by Coccidioides immitis, a soil-inhabiting fungus endemic to the desert climate of the southwestern United States and Central and South America. We report a case of disseminated coccidioidomycosis in a previously healthy person living in New York City, who was initially thought to have tuberculosis. The incidence of coccidioidomycosis has been increasing in both endemic and nonendemic areas, but diagnosis is often delayed or missed in nonendemic areas, resulting in extensive and unnecessary medical workup for other diseases or progression to serious disease. Therefore, clinicians should increase their awareness and consideration of this disease in patients with chronic systemic illness.