title: Case of coccidioidomycosis in Ireland.
abstract: Coccidioidal infection is a well-recognised cause of pulmonary disease in certain parts of the south-western USA, Central and South America; however, it is rarely encountered elsewhere in the world. We describe the case of a previously healthy man presenting to a Dublin hospital with fever, dry cough and chest pain, following a visit to the western USA. Despite treatment with broad-spectrum antimicrobials, the patient developed progressive bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and a large pleural effusion. After extensive investigations including CT, bronchoscopy and pleural fluid analysis, a diagnosis of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis was made. Following the initiation of appropriate antifungal therapy, the patient made a full recovery. This case was of interest due to the rarity of the disease outside its areas of endemicity and the unusual findings associated with its diagnosis.
authors: Department of Respiratory, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Tallaght, Ireland.
authors: Patrick Thomas
authors: PT
authors: Duggan
authors: Blackrock Clinic, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Alexander P
authors: AP
authors: Deegan
authors: St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Timothy J
authors: TJ
authors: McDonnell
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000382:microbiology; D003047:Coccidioidomycosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003371:Cough / Q000382:microbiology; D005334:Fever / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000382:microbiology; D015206:Southwestern United States; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents