title: An outbreak of histoplasmosis in the city of Blumenau, Santa Catarina.
abstract: Acute pulmonary histoplasmosis is rarely diagnosed and is often confused with tuberculosis. Most knowledge of the disease has been derived from descriptions of epidemics in which a number of individuals were exposed to the same source of infection. Isolation of Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum from soil samples is conclusive evidence of an epidemic focus. This is the first report of an outbreak of histoplasmosis, in which two cases were reported and the fungus was isolated at the focus of the epidemic, in the state of Santa Catarina. Further epidemiological studies are needed in order to determine the prevalence of the infection statewide.
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa Hospital Mycology Laboratory, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávio de Mattos
authors.initials: Fde M
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Unis
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Severo
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006658:Histoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole