Disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent host.

Infection with histoplasma capsulatum is endemic in many parts of the world. This organism is of generally low human virulence but can act as an opportunistic agent when host immune responses allow persistent parasitization of macrophages (acute pulmonary and disseminated histoplasmosis) or when abnormal pulmonary spaces due to emphysema allow colonization of these spaces and its consequences. Contrarily,, it has even been known to affect immunocompetent individuals. The disease may present as a transient selflimiting flu-like illness with pulmonary symptoms or as a chronic multiorgan disease, which can be mistaken for tuberculosis or a malignancy. Histoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungus which is the commonest and the most extensively studied fungal infection in the U.S 1. Its prevalence rate in Pakistan has not been documented to date. We report an indigenous case of disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient.