Volume 9, Number 10—October 2003
Dispatch
Severe Histoplasmosis in Travelers to Nicaragua
Michelle Weinberg*
, Julia Weeks†, Susan Lance-Parker‡, Marc Traeger*§, Steven Wiersma§, Quyen N. Phan¶, David Dennison#, Pia MacDonald***, Mark Lindsley*, Jeannette Guarner*, Patricia Connolly††, Martin Cetron*, and Rana Hajjeh*
, Julia Weeks†, Susan Lance-Parker‡, Marc Traeger*§, Steven Wiersma§, Quyen N. Phan¶, David Dennison#, Pia MacDonald***, Mark Lindsley*, Jeannette Guarner*, Patricia Connolly††, Martin Cetron*, and Rana Hajjeh*Table
Summary of laboratory testing results and clinical outcomes among persons with histoplasmosis
| Characteristic | N (%) |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic test resulta |
|
| CFb and IDc positive |
5 (36) |
| CF positive, ID negative |
8 (57) |
| ID positive, CF negative |
1 (7) |
| Urine antigen positived |
7 (58), range 1.2–4.6, median 2.8 |
| Clinical outcomese |
|
| Missed work, school, or bothf |
10 (83) |
| Treated with itraconazole |
9 (75) |
| Treated with steroids |
7 (58) |
| Hospitalized |
6 (50) |
| Duration of hospitalization |
Median 6 d (range 2–11 d) |
| Duration of fever |
Median 12 d (range 4–26 d) |
| Duration of symptoms | Median 42 d (range 16–210 d) |
aAmong 14 persons with histoplasmosis.
bCF: complement fixation.
cID: immunodiffusion.
dUrine antigen tests were performed for 12 persons.
eAmong the 12 symptomatic persons.
fFive persons missed 2 weeks–3 months of work, and five persons missed one semester of school.
