Histoplasma duboisii of the femoral bone

Abstract

Histoplasmosis due to Histoplasma duboisii is an emerging AIDS-defining opportunistic infection in HIV positive seen predominantly on the African continent between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Histoplasma duboisii is an invasive fungal organism with tropism for lymph nodes, skin and bones. The infection occurs more in patients with a CD4 count <50/mm3 and is usually dissemnnated Histoplasmosis due to Histoplasma duboisii is an emerging AIDS-defining opportunistic infection in HIV positive seen predominantly on the African continent between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Histoplasma duboisii is an invasive fungal organism with tropism for lymph nodes, skin and bones. The infection occurs more in patients with a CD4 count <50/mm3 and is usually disseminated. Literature reports of its occurrence in HIV negative patients are scanty. We report a case of histoplasma dubiosii infection of the left femur in a 9 year old HIV negative Nigerian with swelling in the left thigh of 5 months duration. Oral antibiotics and analgesics were prescribed for the patient with satisfactory clinical outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in an immunocompetent child in Nigeria. Literature reports of its occurrence in HIV negative patients are scanty. We report a case of istoplasma dubiosii infection of the left femur in a 9 year old HIV negative Nigerian with swelling in the left thigh of 5 months duration. Oral antibiotics and analgesics were prescribed for the patient with satisfactory clinical outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in an immunocompetent child in Nigeria.