title: Two imported cases of Penicillium marneffei infection in Belgium.
abstract: Two imported cases of Penicillium marneffei infection in Belgium are reported. Both patients are Thai women co-infected with HIV. P. marneffei infection should be suspected in immunocompromised patients originating or travelling from South-East Asia with unexplained fever (> 38 degrees C), weight loss, a generalised lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, skin lesions, cough and anaemia. Diagnosis is made by culture and/or histopathological examination. Mild to moderate infections are treated with itraconazole 400 mg/day as first choice. Amphotericin B parenteral therapy may be required for seriously ill patients. Maintenance therapy with itraconazole 200 mg/day is necessary to prevent relapses.
authors.affiliation: Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde, Departement Klinische Wetenschappen, Antwerpen.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Depraetere
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colebunders
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ieven
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Droogh
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pelgrom
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hauben
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Marck
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Devroey
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001530:Belgium; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010407:Penicillium; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology; D013785:Thailand / Q000208:ethnology; D014195:Travel; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole; D000666:Amphotericin B