Systemic fungal infections: diagnosis and treatment. I. Paracoccidioidomycosis.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is the designation for the disease caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. It is a disease of great importance in Latin America and constitutes an important diagnosis for consideration in patients from endemic areas who have pulmonary or systemic disease compatible with fungal infection. In the laboratory, basic work has uncovered important interactions between the fungus and the human sex steroid system. These studies may have important implications in our approach to this and other infectious diseases.