TY - JOUR
T1 - Coccidioidomycosis in African Americans
AU - Ruddy, Barbara E.
AU - Mayer, Anita P.
AU - Ko, Marcia G.
AU - Labonte, Helene R.
AU - Borovansky, Jill A.
AU - Boroff, Erika S.
AU - Blair, Janis E.
PY - 2011/1
Y1 - 2011/1
N2 - Coccidioidomycosis is caused by Coccidioides species, a fungus endemic to the desert regions of the southwestern United States, and is of particular concern for African Americans. We performed a PubMed search of the English-language medical literature on coccidioidomycosis in African Americans and summarized the pertinent literature. Search terms were coccidioidomycosis, Coccidioides, race, ethnicity, African, black, and Negro. The proceedings of the national and international coccidioidomycosis symposia were searched. All relevant articles and their cited references were reviewed; those with epidemiological, immunologic, clinical, and therapeutic data pertaining to coccidioidomycosis in African Americans were included in the review. Numerous studies documented an increased predilection for severe coccidioidal infections, coccidioidomycosis-related hospitalizations, and extrapulmonary dissemination in persons of African descent; however, most of the published studies are variably problematic. The immunologic mechanism for this predilection is unclear. The clinical features and treatment recommendations are summarized. Medical practitioners need to be alert to the possibility of coccidioidomycosis in persons with recent travel to or residence in an area where the disease is endemic.
AB - Coccidioidomycosis is caused by Coccidioides species, a fungus endemic to the desert regions of the southwestern United States, and is of particular concern for African Americans. We performed a PubMed search of the English-language medical literature on coccidioidomycosis in African Americans and summarized the pertinent literature. Search terms were coccidioidomycosis, Coccidioides, race, ethnicity, African, black, and Negro. The proceedings of the national and international coccidioidomycosis symposia were searched. All relevant articles and their cited references were reviewed; those with epidemiological, immunologic, clinical, and therapeutic data pertaining to coccidioidomycosis in African Americans were included in the review. Numerous studies documented an increased predilection for severe coccidioidal infections, coccidioidomycosis-related hospitalizations, and extrapulmonary dissemination in persons of African descent; however, most of the published studies are variably problematic. The immunologic mechanism for this predilection is unclear. The clinical features and treatment recommendations are summarized. Medical practitioners need to be alert to the possibility of coccidioidomycosis in persons with recent travel to or residence in an area where the disease is endemic.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78650965797&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78650965797&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4065/mcp.2010.0423
DO - 10.4065/mcp.2010.0423
M3 - Review article
C2 - 21193657
AN - SCOPUS:78650965797
SN - 0025-6196
VL - 86
SP - 63
EP - 69
JO - Mayo Clinic proceedings
JF - Mayo Clinic proceedings
IS - 1
ER -