Central Nervous System Coccidioidomycosis in Children: A Retrospective Case Series. 2023

Fouzia Naeem, and Fred Laningham, and Linda Giglio, and Julia Sharma, and Patricia Quebada Clerkin, and James M McCarty
Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Valley Children's Healthcare, Madera, California.

Published literature on central nervous system (CNS) coccidioidomycosis in children is limited. Here we describe a large case series of pediatric CNS coccidioidomycosis from a tertiary care center in an endemic region. This is a retrospective case review of patients ≤21 years old with a diagnosis of CNS coccidioidomycosis from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2018. Thirty patients (median age 10.8 years) were identified and most (93%) were previously healthy. Fever (90%), headache (70%), vomiting (53%), and fatigue (57%) were the most common presenting clinical manifestations, with focal neurological signs/symptoms present in 14 (47%). The initial serum Coccidioides compliment fixation (CF) titer was ≤ 1:8 in 33%. Most patients had extra-axial brain involvement (83%) and seven (23%) had associated spinal cord disease. Shunt placement was required in 70% and 62% required revision. Fluconazole was the initial treatment in 22 (73%), with treatment failure occurring in 50%. Most patients (77%) stabilized and were maintained on suppressive therapy, 4 (13%) experienced relapses and/or progressive disease, and one (3%) died, while long-term neurological complications occurred in 17%. CNS coccidioidomycosis is an uncommon and sometimes devastating complication of disseminated coccidioidomycosis. Many patients present with relatively low CF titers and hydrocephalus is common. Fluconazole treatment failures are common, and management remains difficult despite recent advances in therapy. Most patients do well once the disease is stabilized and require lifelong therapy. Newer therapeutic agents are needed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002490 Central Nervous System The main information-processing organs of the nervous system, consisting of the brain, spinal cord, and meninges. Cerebrospinal Axis,Axi, Cerebrospinal,Axis, Cerebrospinal,Central Nervous Systems,Cerebrospinal Axi,Nervous System, Central,Nervous Systems, Central,Systems, Central Nervous
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D003045 Coccidioides A mitosporic fungal genus which causes COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS. Coccidioides immitis
D003047 Coccidioidomycosis Infection with a fungus of the genus COCCIDIOIDES, endemic to the SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES. It is sometimes called valley fever but should not be confused with RIFT VALLEY FEVER. Infection is caused by inhalation of airborne, fungal particles known as arthroconidia, a form of FUNGAL SPORES. A primary form is an acute, benign, self-limited respiratory infection. A secondary form is a virulent, severe, chronic, progressive granulomatous disease with systemic involvement. It can be detected by use of COCCIDIOIDIN. Coccidioides Infection,Coccidioides posadasii Infection,Coccidioidomycosis Infection,Coccidioides immitis Infection,San Joaquin Valley Fever,Valley Fever,Coccidioides Infections,Coccidioides immitis Infections,Coccidioides posadasii Infections,Coccidioidomycoses,Coccidioidomycosis Infections,Infection, Coccidioides,Infection, Coccidioides immitis,Infection, Coccidioides posadasii,Infection, Coccidioidomycosis,Valley Fevers
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000935 Antifungal Agents Substances that destroy fungi by suppressing their ability to grow or reproduce. They differ from FUNGICIDES, INDUSTRIAL because they defend against fungi present in human or animal tissues. Anti-Fungal Agents,Antifungal Agent,Fungicides, Therapeutic,Antibiotics, Antifungal,Therapeutic Fungicides,Agent, Antifungal,Anti Fungal Agents,Antifungal Antibiotics
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D015725 Fluconazole Triazole antifungal agent that is used to treat oropharyngeal CANDIDIASIS and cryptococcal MENINGITIS in AIDS. Apo-Fluconazole,Béagyne,Diflucan,Fluc Hexal,FlucoLich,Flucobeta,Fluconazol AL,Fluconazol AbZ,Fluconazol Stada,Fluconazol von ct,Fluconazol-Isis,Fluconazol-ratiopharm,Flunazul,Fungata,Lavisa,Loitin,Neofomiral,Oxifungol,Solacap,Triflucan,UK-49858,Zonal,Apo Fluconazole,Fluconazol Isis,Fluconazol ratiopharm,UK 49858,UK49858
D055815 Young Adult A person between 19 and 24 years of age. Adult, Young,Adults, Young,Young Adults

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