DECREASING PREVALENCE OF THE ACUTE/SUBACUTE CLINICAL FORM OF PARACOCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS IN MATO GROSSO DO SUL STATE, BRAZIL

With the objective to evaluate the behavior of paracoccidioidomycosis in the last three decades, clinical and epidemiological data of 595 patients admitted to clinical services of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul from 1980 to 2009 were investigated. Gender, age distribution, clinical form, comorbidity with tuberculosis or AIDS, and mortality were compared by decades of clinical admission. It was shown that during the three decades there was a decrease in women percentage, and the same manner occurred a reduction in participants in the age group of 20 to 39 years. Moreover, the acute/subacute forms have been diminished in the period. These fluctuations are closely related and can be simultaneously analyzed. Increased AIDS co-infection prevalence from the first to the second decade was also revealed, coinciding with the appearance of the retroviral epidemic and stabilizing during the third decade. No change in the tuberculosis co-infection rate was observed (overall = 6.9%). It reinforces the importance of this co-morbidity. The overall mortality rate remained steady at 6.7%, not varying significantly from one decade to another. The persistent mortality rate calls attention to the importance of this neglected disease

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PARACOCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS

SUMMARYThe epidemiological characteristics of paracoccidioidomycosis were reviewed and updated. The new endemic areas in Brazil were discussed in the section regarding the geographic distribution of the mycosis. Subclinical infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was discussed on the basis of skin test surveys with antigens of the fungus, seroepidemiological studies, and disease cases outside Latin America. Large case series permitted a comparison of the prevalence of the mycosis in different regions, its estimated incidence and risk factors for the development of the disease. Aspects modulating the expression of the clinical forms of paracoccidioidomycosis are also presented. This review also deals with diseases associated with the mycosis, opportunistic paracoccidioidomycosis, lethality, mortality and infection and disease in animals

Meningite paracoccidioidomicótica: relato de caso Paracoccidioidomycosis meningitis: case report

O envolvimento do sistema nervoso central na paracoccidioidomicose tem sido pouco descrito na literatura, sendo rara sua apresentação sob a forma meníngea. Descreve-se o caso de um paciente de 23 anos que desenvolveu meningite paracoccidioidomicótica comprovada pela positividade do fungo na pesquisa direta e cultura do líquido cefaloraquidiano. Discute-se a apresentação da forma meníngea da paracoccidioidomicose, seu diagnóstico laboratorial e neurorradiológico. Destaca-se a importância da investigação rotineira do fungo.<br>The involvement of the central nervous system in paracoccidioidomycosis and its meningeal form of clinical presentation have rarely been described. This is a case report of a 23 years old man who developed paracoccidioidomycosis meningitis achieved by fungus' presence in direct research and culture of cerebrospinal fluid. The meningeal form of paracoccidioidomycosis, its laboratorial and imaging diagnostic are discussed, and the importance of the routine investigation of the fungus is emphasized

Dissociação clínico-radiológica nas manifestações pulmonares da paracoccidioidomicose Clinical-radiological dissociation in lung manifestations of paracoccidioidomycosis

Os pulmões estão entre os principais sítios acometidos pela paracoccidioidomicose, contudo as alterações nem sempre são fáceis de serem diferenciadas de outros distúrbios respiratórios. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a freqüência do comprometimento pulmonar na paracoccidioidomicose e se existe associação clínico-radiológica. Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo de março de 1996 a novembro de 2006, em pacientes com paracoccidioidomicose no Hospital Universitário Regional de Maringá, PR. No período foram confirmados 45 casos, dos quais 79,5% apresentavam alterações radiológicas em Raios-X de tórax e quatro deles tinham também tuberculose pulmonar. De 40 pacientes com paracoccidioidomicose exclusivamente, 57,5% apresentavam manifestações clínicas respiratórias e 77,5% alterações radiológicas, ficando evidente uma dissociação clínico-radiológica, o tabagismo foi declarado por 80,6% dos pacientes que apresentavam alterações radiológicas. Concluímos que as alterações morfológicas no pulmão, embora freqüentes, nem sempre correspondem a sinais e sintomas respiratórios e são difíceis de serem atribuídas exclusivamente à paracoccidioidomicose.<br>Lungs are among the main sites affected by paracoccidioidomycosis. However, the alterations are not always easy to differentiate from other respiratory disorders. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the frequency of lung impairment in paracoccidioidomycosis cases and to investigate whether any clinical-radiological association exists. A retrospective study was carried out from March 1996 to November 2006, among patients with paracoccidioidomycosis at the Regional University Hospital of Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. Over this period, 45 cases were confirmed, of which 79.5% presented radiological abnormalities on chest X-rays, and four of them also presented pulmonary tuberculosis. Out of the total of 40 patients with paracoccidioidomycosis alone, 57.5% presented respiratory clinical manifestations, whereas 77.5% presented radiological abnormalities, thus demonstrating clinical-radiological dissociation. On the other hand, 80.6% of the patients who presented radiological abnormalities said that they smoked. We concluded that although morphological abnormalities in the lungs are frequent, they do not always correspond to respiratory signs and symptoms and cannot easily be attributed exclusively to paracoccidioidomycosis

Long-term outcome of neuroparacoccidioidomycosis treatment

INTRODUCTION: Neuroparacoccidioidomycosis (NPCM) is a term used to describe the invasion of the central nervous system by the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. NPCM has been described sporadically in some case reports and small case series, with little or no focus on treatment outcome and long-term follow-up. METHODS: All patients with NPCM from January 1991 to December 2006 were analyzed and were followed until December 2009. RESULTS: Fourteen (3.8%) cases of NPCM were identified out of 367 patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). A combination of oral fluconazole and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMZ/TMP) was the regimen of choice, with no documented death due to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection. Residual neurological deficits were observed in 8 patients. Residual calcification was a common finding in neuroimaging follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: All the patients in this study responded positively to the association of oral fluconazole and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, a regimen that should be considered a treatment option in cases of NPCM. Neurological sequela was a relatively common finding. For proper management of these patients, anticonvulsant treatment and physical therapy support were also needed