Galgiani J N
Medical Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tucson, AZ 85723.
West J Med. 1993 Aug;159(2):153-71.
Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic fungal infection endemic to the southwestern United States and other parts of the western hemisphere. Although producing a wide range of disorders in healthy persons, immunosuppression predisposes to especially severe disease. Thus, a knowledge of the pathogenesis of coccidioidal infections and its relation to the normal immune responses is useful to understand the diversity of problems that Coccidioides immitis may cause. Diagnosis usually requires laboratory studies such as fungal culture or specific serologic testing. Fortunately, many patients do not need to be treated for the infection to resolve. Therapy for the more severe forms of coccidioidal infection was once limited to amphotericin B but now includes azole antifungal agents. These expanded alternatives now require physicians to weigh many factors in determining the best management for specific patients.
球孢子菌病是一种系统性真菌感染，在美国西南部和西半球其他地区流行。虽然在健康人身上会引发多种疾病，但免疫抑制会使病情尤其严重。因此，了解球孢子菌感染的发病机制及其与正常免疫反应的关系，有助于理解粗球孢子菌可能导致的各种问题。诊断通常需要进行实验室检查，如真菌培养或特异性血清学检测。幸运的是，许多患者无需接受治疗，感染即可自行痊愈。曾经，治疗较为严重的球孢子菌感染形式仅限于两性霉素B，但现在包括唑类抗真菌药物。这些更多的选择现在要求医生在为特定患者确定最佳治疗方案时权衡许多因素。
