Disease: bilateral diffuse interstitial pneumonia

Photo Quiz: A cutaneous fungal infection with discordant biomarker results—a diagnostic challenge

This case describes a woman with advanced HIV who developed a serious fungal infection called histoplasmosis affecting her skin, lungs, and lymph nodes. Diagnosis was challenging because standard fungal blood tests came back negative, but careful examination of samples and specialized testing confirmed Histoplasma capsulatum. The patient was successfully treated with antifungal medications, highlighting the importance of not relying solely on negative tests when clinical suspicion is high.

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Photo Quiz: A cutaneous fungal infection with discordant biomarker results—a diagnostic challenge

A woman with advanced HIV disease presented with unusual skin lesions that were initially suspected to be from a virus, but laboratory testing revealed a rare fungal infection called histoplasmosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. The case was challenging because some standard fungal tests came back negative even though the patient had the infection, showing why doctors need to rely on culture and examination under the microscope. She was treated with antifungal medications and her diagnosis highlights the importance of considering fungal infections in severely immunocompromised patients even when initial tests seem negative.

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