Histoplasmosis: differentiation from tuberculosis in the context of AIDS

Authors

  • Jussemara Souza da Silva Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas, São Paulo - SP - Brasil.
  • Daniela Costa Anastácio Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas, São Paulo - SP - Brasil.
  • Cesar Cilento Ponce Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo - SP - Brasil / Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos - SP - Brasil.
  • Márcia Yoshida Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas, São Paulo - SP - Brasil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5935/2764-734X.e20230119

Keywords:

Histoplasmosis, AIDS-related opportunistic infections, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, Diagnosis, Differential, Case report

Abstract

Histoplasmosis and tuberculosis are highly endemic in Brazil and have similar clinical and radiological manifestations, which can lead to diagnostic errors. In this report, we describe the case of a patient living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for 12 years, who abandoned treatment for two years, and was presumptively diagnosed and treated for tuberculosis six months ago. However, due to the worsening of his symptoms, he was hospitalized and diagnosed with febrile wasting syndrome associated with severe sore throat, skin lesions, nodules in the larynx, and miliary micronodular pulmonary infiltrate. The diagnosis of histoplasmosis was confirmed by identifying the fungus in the biopsies, culturing clinical specimens, and detecting serum antibodies. The patient responded well to treatment with amphotericin B and was discharged on itraconazole and antiretroviral therapy.

References

1. Basso RP, Poester VR, Benelli JL, Stevens DA, Xavier MO. Disseminated histoplasmosis in persons with HIV/AIDS, Southern Brazil, 2010-2019. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Mar;28(3):721-4.

2. Almeida MA, Almeida-Silva F, Guimarães AJ, Almeida-Paes R, Zancopé-Oliveira RM. The occurrence of histoplasmosis in Brazil: a systematic review. Int J Infect Dis. 2019 Sep;86:147-56.

3. Ashraf N, Kubat RC, Poplin V, Adenis AA, Denning DW, Wright L, et al. Re-drawing the maps for endemic mycoses. Mycopathologia. 2020 Oct;185(5):843-65.

4. Unis G, Severo L. Chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis mimicking tuberculosis. J Bras Pneumol. 2005 Ago;31(4):318-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132005000400009

5. Adenis AA, Valdes A, Cropet C, McCotter OZ, Derado G, Couppie P, et al. Burden of HIV-associated histoplasmosis compared with tuberculosis in Latin America: a modelling study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2018 Out;18(10):1150-9.

6. Kuate MPN, Ekeng BE, Kwizera R, Mandengue C, Bongomin F. Histoplasmosis overlapping with HIV and tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa: challenges and research priorities. Ther Adv Infect Dis. 2021;8:1-7.

7. Falci DR, Monteiro AA, Caurio CFB, Magalhães TCO, Xavier MO, Basso RP, et al. Histoplasmosis, an underdiagnosed disease affecting people living with HIV/AIDS in Brazil: results of a multicenter prospective cohort study using both classical mycology tests and histoplasma urine antigen detection. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2019 Abr;6(4):ofz073. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofz073

8. Damasceno LS, Ramos Junior AN, Alencar CH, Gonçalves MV, Mesquita JR, Soares AT, et al. Disseminated histoplasmosis in HIV-infected patients: determinants of relapse and mortality in a north-eastern area of Brazil. Mycoses. 2014 Jul;57(7):406-13.

9. Adenis AA, Aznar C, Couppié P. Histoplasmosis in HIV-infected patients: a review of new developments and remaining gaps. Curr Trop Med Rep. 2014;1(2):119-28.

10. Myint T, Leedy N, Cari EV, Wheat LJ. HIV-associated histoplasmosis: current perspectives. HIV AIDS (Auckl). 2020;12:113-25.

11. Hanf M, Adenis A, Couppie P, Carme B, Nacher M. HIV-associated histoplasmosis in French Guiana: recent infection or reactivation? AIDS. 2010 Jul;24(11):1777-8.

12. Ferreira OG, Cardoso SV, Borges AS, Ferreira MS, Loyola AM. Oral histoplasmosis in Brazil. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2002 Jun;93(6):654-9.

13. Antonello VS, Zaltron VF, Vial M, Oliveira FM, Severo LC. Oropharyngeal histoplasmosis: report of eleven cases and review of the literature. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2011;44(1):26-9.

14. Guimarães AJ, Nosanchuk JD, Zancopé-Oliveira RM. Diagnosis of histoplasmosis. Braz J Microbiol. 2006 Jan;37(1):1-13.

15. Perez F, Caceres DH, Ford N, Ravasi G, Gomez BL, Pasqualotto AC, et al. Summary of Guidelines for Managing Histoplasmosis among People Living with HIV. J Fungi (Basel). 2021 Fev;7(2):134-42.

16. Wheat LJ, Freifeld AG, Kleiman MB, Baddley JW, McKinsey DS, Loyd JE, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of patients with histoplasmosis: 2007 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Out;45(7):807-25.

17. Vidal JE, Werlang PC, Muniz BM, Rego CM, Barbalho RE, Baptista AM, et al. Combining urine antigen and blood polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis in hospitalized patients with advanced HIV disease. Med Mycol. 2021 Set;59(9):916-22.

18. Falci D, Lana DFD, Pasqualotto AC. The era of histoplasmosis in Brazilian endemic mycoses. Lancet Regional Health Am. 2021;3:100037. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2021.100037

19. Guarner J, Brandt ME. Histopathologic diagnosis of fungal infections in the 21st century. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2011 Abr;24(2):247-80.

Published

2023-02-23

How to Cite

Silva, J. S. da, Anastácio, D. C., Ponce, C. C., & Yoshida, M. (2023). Histoplasmosis: differentiation from tuberculosis in the context of AIDS. Infections in Evidence, 2, e20230119. https://doi.org/10.5935/2764-734X.e20230119

Issue

Section

Case Reports