Skin lesions in histoplasmosis

Abstract

Histoplasmosis is a granulomatous infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, a dimorphic fungus. It is distributed worldwide and prevalent in certain regions of North and Central America. Pulmonary involvement is the most common clinical presentation. Cutaneous manifestations are reported to occur in 10% to 25% of AIDS patients with disseminated histoplasmosis. The skin lesions are polymorphic papules, plaques with or without crusts, pustules, nodules, mucosal ulcers, erosions, punched out ulcers, lesions resembling molluscum contagiosum, acneiform eruptions, erythematosus papules and keratotic plaques, purpuric lesions, and localized and generalized vegetant forms of dermatitis, sometimes an eruption similar to rosacea, keratotic papules with transepidermal elimination, polymorphous erythema, erythroderma syndromes, pyoderma gangrenosum, panniculitis, diffuse hyperpigmentation, abscesses, and cellulitis.