Disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient - utility of skin scrape cytology in diagnosis: a case report

J Med Case Rep. 2018 Jan 12;12(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s13256-017-1543-5.

Abstract

Background: Histoplasma 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 presentation: We report here a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in a 46-year-old Indian man.

Conclusion: Skin 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.

Keywords: Bird droppings; Dimorphic fungus; Disseminated; Histoplasmosis; Scrape cytology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Early Diagnosis
  • Early Medical Intervention / methods
  • Histoplasma / isolation & purification*
  • Histoplasmosis / diagnosis*
  • Histoplasmosis / etiology
  • Histoplasmosis / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Skin* / microbiology
  • Skin* / pathology