infections
Paracoccidioidomycosis
Introduction
Paracoccidioidomycosis is an infection caused by the fungusParacoccidioides brasiliensis. Spores of the fungus, which grow in soil, may be inhaled. Most people have no symptoms, but symptoms, if they occur, usually occur years after people inhale the fungus. Paracoccidioidomycosis usually causes a cough, fever, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing, but it can cause sores, swollen lymph nodes, and sometimes abdominal pain. Doctors diagnose the infection by identifying the fungus in tissue samples. Doctors usually treat paracoccidioidomycosis with the antifungal medicationitraconazole. (See also Overview of Fungal Infections .) Paracoccidioidomycosis is caused by inhaling spores of the fungus, which grow in soil. Paracoccidioidomycosis usually involves the lungs, skin, mouth, throat, and lymph nodes, although it sometimes appears in the liver or spleen. It occurs more often in men aged 20 to 50, particularly agricultural workers such as coffee growers in Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. It occurs only in parts of South and Central America. Paracoccidioidomycosis typically infects people with a healthy immune system. However, it sometimes occurs in people who have a weakened immune system (because of another disorder or use of medications that suppress the immune system). 