Paracoccidioidomycosis

A rare mycosis characterized by an acute form mostly occurring in children and young adults presenting with fever, weight loss, lymph node enlargement, hepatosplenomegaly, and bone marrow dysfunction, versus a chronic form which usually involves the lungs and mucosae of the upper respiratory tract, skin, lymph nodes, and adrenal glands, but may affect any part of the body. The most common sequelae are chronic respiratory insufficiency and Addison's disease. The infectious agent, <i>Paracoccidioides brasiliensis</i>, is a fungus limited to Latin America.