Incidentally Diagnosed Disseminated Histoplasmosis among Non HIV Patients: A Series of Three Cases with Review of Literature
Correspondence Address :
Dr. Priyanka Purohit,
207, Jai Shree Krishna Residency, New Navratan, Udaipur-313001, Rajasthan, India.
E-mail: priyankapurohit.5@gmail.com
Histoplasmosis is a rare airborne fungal infection that is soil-based and is mostly documented in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive patients. It is common in people living near valley regions. Hereby, authors report three cases of Asian women from different regions of Southern Rajasthan who died due to delayed diagnosis of histoplasmosis within a few days of admission. They all had complaints of fatigue and fever for one month. One presented with decreased urine output and pancytopenia, while the others had complaints of prolonged fever with pancytopenia and fatigue. In all three cases, bone marrow examination was done, and they shared the same diagnosis - disseminated histoplasmosis. It was further confirmed by special stains and microbiological investigations. Authors also reviewed recent articles based on South Asian region histoplasmosis case reports and found three case presentations with the same clinical presentation and outcomes. Treatment was started, but patients deteriorated and died within 10 days of admission. Delay in the diagnosis of histoplasmosis leads to the death of patients. Therefore, histoplasmosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for prolonged fever with pancytopenia and chronic infections.
Bone marrow, Diabetes, Pancytopenia, Special stains
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2024/68252.19356
Date of Submission: Oct 24, 2023
Date of Peer Review: Dec 13, 2023
Date of Acceptance: Feb 26, 2024
Date of Publishing: May 01, 2024
Author declaration:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? Yes
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. Yes
PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS:
• Plagiarism X-checker: Oct 25, 2023
• Manual Googling: Jan 24, 2024
• iThenticate Software: Feb 23, 2024 (11%)
Etymology: Author Origin
Emendations: 7
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