Is Coccidioidomycosis  Being Missed in Africa?   

• ¹, Infectious Diseases and Immunology unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano,

Coccidioidomycosis is an endemic fungal infection in the Americas.  It is common in immunocompromised hosts or those with underlying lung disorders/damage. In this article, we report a case of Pulmonary Coccidioidomycosis in an immunocompetent African patient with normal lungs and no history of travel to endemic zones. A 51yr old Chadian presented to the clinic with four (4) months history of recurrent cough, generalized body weakness and weight loss. He has no known risk factor. He was wasted with features of right lower zone consolidation. Screening for HIV and tuberculosis  was negative. Histology of right lung mass seen on imaging was consistent with Coccidioidomycosis. Had oral Itraconazole with remarkable improvement after six (6) weeks. This communication can stimulate clinicians to search for and report more cases of coccidioidomycosis that might be missing in Africa with the potential of changing the epidemiologic description of this important fungal infection.