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Rare disease
An unusual cause of a pulmonary opacity in a visitor to the UK
  1. Beatrice Anne Marie Downie,
  2. Gareth Rosser,
  3. Catherine Mary Atkin,
  4. Simon William Dubrey
  1. Department of Cardiology, Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Simon William Dubrey, simon.dubrey{at}thh.nhs.uk

A 64-year-old man, resident in Arizona for 3 years, presented with a week-long history of a dry cough and ‘flu-like symptoms’. He had recently been renovating his house. A chest radiograph showed a left mid-zone opacity. Investigations for lung cancer were performed and he underwent CT-guided biopsy of the lesion. A coccidioidal fungus known to cause ‘Valley Fever’ was isolated. Treatment with fluconazole led to a complete recovery. This fungal infection is endemic in parts of the USA and Mexico and usually presents with respiratory symptoms. Additional complications include disseminated disease and meningitis.

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.

  • Patient consent Obtained.