| Abstrakt: |
Paracoccidioidomycosis is an endemic fungal infection of pulmonary origin that disseminates to different sites, notably oral mucous membranes, adrenal glands, reticuloendothelial system, and skin. The disease tends to run a chronic course with acute cases being rare; outbreaks have not been reported. Four clinical presentations are recognized: subclinical infection, progressive disease that can be either chronic (adult-type), or acute/subacute (juvenile-type), and the residual form. This mycosis is restricted to Latin America, and has a striking male predominance. The etiologic agent is a thermally dimorphic fungus, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, which at 35–37°C assumes a yeast form characterized by a mother cell surrounded by multiple blastoconidia resembling a pilot΄s wheel. At lower temperatures the fungus grows as a mould that gives rise to conidia. The organism΄s microniche in nature has not yet been precisely defined. The disease can be successfully treated, but fibrotic sequelae are common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
