CASE OF THE MONTH

Coccidioides

Febuary, 2021

This was a 40 year old gentleman with shortness of breath, hemoptysis and history of HIV and cryptococcus. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed and submitted to cytology for diagnosis. Upon evaluation, spherules and endospores were identified and the diagnosis of Coccidioides was made. Coccidioides, San Joaquin Valley Fever, is endemic to New Mexico and causes primary lung disease in the immunocompromised. This patient had stopped taking his antiretroviral medication and his CD4 count was very low. Coccidioides is treated by Amphotericin B. Unfortunately, this patient did not survive the disease, which can become disseminated in severe cases.





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