Coccidioidomycosis presenting years after returning from travel.

ABSTRACT

After having traveled to California in 2017, a 26-year old Dutch man presented in 2020 with persisting cough and shortness of breath. Radiology showed cystic bronchiectasis with peri-bronchial consolidation in his right upper lobe. Laboratory studies in August 2021 showed an increased total IgE, specific Aspergillus IgE, eosinophilia and positive BAL culture for Coccidioides immitis/posadasii. After 6 weeks of itraconazole treatment for suspected allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, symptoms persisted and respiratory cultures remained positive. The infection was cleared after a 6-month course of fluconazole. (max 75 words).