Deep Fungal Infection- An Emerging Problem in Bangladesh

Authors

  • Rukhsana Parvin Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Enam Medical College
  • Robed Amin Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Dhaka Medical College
  • Md Shahriar Mahbub Postgraduate resident, Department of Medicine, Dhaka Medical College
  • Muntasir Hasnain Assistant Registrar, Department of Medicine, Dhaka Medical College
  • Khan Mohammad Arif Indoor Medical Officer, Department of Medicine, Dhaka Medical College
  • Md Titu Miah Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Dhaka Medical College
  • Ratan Das Gupta Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Dhaka Medical College
  • Md Billal Alam Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Dhaka Medical College
  • HAM Nazmul Ahasan Professor, Department of Medicine, Dhaka Medical College

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/jom.v11i2.5466

Keywords:

Endemic mycoses, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, mucormycosis, aspergilloma, Bangladesh

Abstract

Objective: Invasive deep fungal infections have become a major cause of morbidity and mortality over the past
three decades. Organ transplantation, the use of aggressive chemotherapy and the availability and widespread
use of immunosuppressive treatments for many medical ailments have resulted in large populations of
patients who are at risk of fungal infections. We report our experience to increase awareness of the clinical
spectrum of disseminated fungal infection and its similarity to other infections and malignancy.
Materials and Methods: Case reports from different medical institution for last 6 months were searched through
case registry and recent scientific presentation and publications.
Results: Recently a case of Histoplasmosis was reported in Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where
a 57 years old male presented with low grade fever for 3 months, backache followed by progressive
weakness of both lower limbs , there was spastic paraplegia with sensory loss upto the level of D10. An open
biopsy from paravertebral soft tissue showed histopathological features consistent with histoplasmosis. Other
deep fungal infections e.g. pulmonary blastomycoses, mucormycoses and pulmonary aspergilloma were also
reported in DMCH and Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and RMCH.
Conclusion: As these fungal infections are not commonly encountered in our country and most of the dissemination
has similar clinical features of chronic inflammatory process and malignancy, we need a high index of suspicion to
diagnose with different diagnostic approach. Bangladesh may be experiencing increase load of disseminated fungal
infections and awareness is now very important to explore its underlying aetiology.

Keywords: Endemic mycoses; histoplasmosis; blastomycosis; mucormycosis; aspergilloma; Bangladesh

DOI: 10.3329/jom.v11i2.5466

J MEDICINE 2010; 11 : 170-175

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How to Cite

Parvin, R., Amin, R., Mahbub, M. S., Hasnain, M., Arif, K. M., Miah, M. T., Gupta, R. D., Alam, M. B., & Ahasan, H. N. (2010). Deep Fungal Infection- An Emerging Problem in Bangladesh. Journal of Medicine, 11(2), 170–175. https://doi.org/10.3329/jom.v11i2.5466

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 2 (2010)

Section

Case Reports

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