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Case Reports
. 2023 Jun 1;121(3):e202202715.
doi: 10.5546/aap.2022-02715.eng. Epub 2022 Dec 1.

Disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent pediatric patient

[Article in English, Spanish]
Selene Pury  1 , María S Álvarez  2 , Sebastián Caliva Agüero  3 , Laura V Sasia  4 , Daniela Disandro  1
Affiliations
Free article
Case Reports

Disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent pediatric patient

[Article in English, Spanish]
Selene Pury et al. Arch Argent Pediatr. .
Free article

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Histoplasmosis is an endemic fungal infection caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. The disseminated form is associated with a high morbidity and mortality in pediatrics. Here we report the case of an immunocompetent female patient diagnosed with disseminated histoplasmosis. She was 3 years old and presented with protracted febrile syndrome and hepatosplenomegaly confirmed by ultrasound. Lab tests showed normocytic anemia and leukopenia. Diagnosis was made by periportal and perisplenic lymph node biopsy. The culture was positive for Histoplasma capsulatum and histopathological studies showed granulomatous lymphadenitis with intracellular yeast-like elements. Amphotericin B was administered at 1 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks, with a favorable clinical course. Disseminated histoplasmosis should be considered in patients from endemic areas who present the triad of fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and cytopenias so as to provide a timely treatment, improve prognosis, and reduce the mortality from this disease.

La histoplasmosis es una micosis endémica producida por el hongo Histoplasma capsulatum. La forma diseminada en pediatría conlleva alta morbimortalidad. Reportamos el caso de una niña inmunocompetente con diagnóstico de histoplasmosis diseminada. Paciente de 3 años de edad con cuadro clínico de síndrome febril prolongado acompañado de hepatoesplenomegalia confirmada por ecografía. Laboratorio con anemia normocítica, normocrómica y leucopenia. Se arribó al diagnóstico por biopsia de ganglio periportal y periesplénico. El cultivo fue positivo para Histoplasma capsulatum y en estudios histopatológicos se observó linfadenitis granulomatosa con elementos levaduriformes intracelulares. Realizó tratamiento con anfotericina B 1 mg/kg/día durante 6 semanas con favorable resolución clínica. Se debe considerar histoplasmosis diseminada en aquellos pacientes provenientes de zonas endémicas que presentan la tríada de fiebre, hepatoesplenomegalia y citopenias, para poder brindar un tratamiento oportuno, mejorar el pronóstico y disminuir la mortalidad de la enfermedad.

Keywords: Histoplasma capsulatum; child; histoplasmosis.

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