Paradise – not without its plagues: Overwhelming Blastomycosis pneumonia after visit to lakeside cottages in Northeastern Ontario
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Visiting lakes and cottages is a common leisure activity during summer among most Canadians and paradise for some. Various leisure activities are involved during these visits, including cleaning and 'airing' the cottage aft...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2005-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/5/30 |
| _version_ | 1811281626066321408 |
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| author | Parmar Malvinder S |
| author_facet | Parmar Malvinder S |
| author_sort | Parmar Malvinder S |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Visiting lakes and cottages is a common leisure activity during summer among most Canadians and paradise for some. Various leisure activities are involved during these visits, including cleaning and 'airing' the cottage after long-winters, activities at the lakes and dock building etc, exposing the Canadians to moist soil and decaying woods – a source of white or tan mould – <it>Blastomyces dermatitidis </it>that may cause a flu-like illness to severe pneumonia that often remains a diagnostic challenge and results in delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment thereby increasing associated morbidity and mortality.</p> <p>Case Presentations</p> <p>Five cases of overwhelming acute blastomycosis pneumonia are presented. Four of the five patients presented within few weeks of their visit to the cottages and surrounding lakes and all were initially treated as "community acquired pneumonia" that resulted in delay in diagnosis and poor outcome in the first patient. The first case, however, taught an important lesson that led to high-index of suspicion in the others with early diagnosis and improved outcomes. Interestingly, all patients were obese and had a shorter incubation period and severe clinical course. The possible mechanism for early and severe disease in association with obesity is speculated and literature is reviewed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>High-index of suspicion is important in the early diagnosis and appropriate management acute blastomycosis pneumonia to improve associated morbidity and mortality.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T01:36:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e75c9b60c7114877bc69537340c1a253 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T01:36:57Z |
| publishDate | 2005-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-e75c9b60c7114877bc69537340c1a2532022-12-22T03:08:20ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342005-05-01513010.1186/1471-2334-5-30Paradise – not without its plagues: Overwhelming Blastomycosis pneumonia after visit to lakeside cottages in Northeastern OntarioParmar Malvinder S<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Visiting lakes and cottages is a common leisure activity during summer among most Canadians and paradise for some. Various leisure activities are involved during these visits, including cleaning and 'airing' the cottage after long-winters, activities at the lakes and dock building etc, exposing the Canadians to moist soil and decaying woods – a source of white or tan mould – <it>Blastomyces dermatitidis </it>that may cause a flu-like illness to severe pneumonia that often remains a diagnostic challenge and results in delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment thereby increasing associated morbidity and mortality.</p> <p>Case Presentations</p> <p>Five cases of overwhelming acute blastomycosis pneumonia are presented. Four of the five patients presented within few weeks of their visit to the cottages and surrounding lakes and all were initially treated as "community acquired pneumonia" that resulted in delay in diagnosis and poor outcome in the first patient. The first case, however, taught an important lesson that led to high-index of suspicion in the others with early diagnosis and improved outcomes. Interestingly, all patients were obese and had a shorter incubation period and severe clinical course. The possible mechanism for early and severe disease in association with obesity is speculated and literature is reviewed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>High-index of suspicion is important in the early diagnosis and appropriate management acute blastomycosis pneumonia to improve associated morbidity and mortality.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/5/30 |
| spellingShingle | Parmar Malvinder S Paradise – not without its plagues: Overwhelming Blastomycosis pneumonia after visit to lakeside cottages in Northeastern Ontario BMC Infectious Diseases |
| title | Paradise – not without its plagues: Overwhelming Blastomycosis pneumonia after visit to lakeside cottages in Northeastern Ontario |
| title_full | Paradise – not without its plagues: Overwhelming Blastomycosis pneumonia after visit to lakeside cottages in Northeastern Ontario |
| title_fullStr | Paradise – not without its plagues: Overwhelming Blastomycosis pneumonia after visit to lakeside cottages in Northeastern Ontario |
| title_full_unstemmed | Paradise – not without its plagues: Overwhelming Blastomycosis pneumonia after visit to lakeside cottages in Northeastern Ontario |
| title_short | Paradise – not without its plagues: Overwhelming Blastomycosis pneumonia after visit to lakeside cottages in Northeastern Ontario |
| title_sort | paradise not without its plagues overwhelming blastomycosis pneumonia after visit to lakeside cottages in northeastern ontario |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/5/30 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT parmarmalvinders paradisenotwithoutitsplaguesoverwhelmingblastomycosispneumoniaaftervisittolakesidecottagesinnortheasternontario |