Skin lesion of coccidioidomycosis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Erythema nodosum on the foot

Skin lesion of coccidioidomycosis

Definition:

Skin lesions of coccidioidomycosis are a manifestation in the skin of a fungal infection caused by Cocciodioides inmitis.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection most often found in the desert regions of the southwestern US and in Central and South America. It is acquired by inhaling fungal particles from soil in these regions. The portal of entry for this infection is the lung.

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Up to one-half of affected individuals have mild or no symptoms. Immunosuppressed individuals, such as people with AIDS or cancer or transplant recipients, are at higher risk of severe, widespread (disseminated) disease.

Skin lesions can occur in the early stages of coccidioidomycosis (during primary lung infection). They include erythema nodosum or erythema multiforme. These rashes usually clear without treatment and are believed to be caused by an immune response to the infection.

After primary infection in the lungs, the fungus itself may spread to other tissues including the skin and lead to various skin lesions including papules, nodules, and ulcers. These lesions contain fungus within them and are a manifestation of disseminated (widespread) fungal disease.