An unusual cause of a pulmonary opacity in a visitor to the UK

BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Aug 8:2012:bcr2012006706. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2012-006706.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arizona / epidemiology
  • Coccidioides / isolation & purification*
  • Coccidioidomycosis / diagnosis*
  • Coccidioidomycosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Coccidioidomycosis / drug therapy
  • Coccidioidomycosis / microbiology
  • Cough / microbiology*
  • Fluconazole / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / microbiology*
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / diagnosis*
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Travel
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Fluconazole