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Skin lesion of blastomycosis - Symptom

Symptoms:

Skin symptoms occur in about 80% of people whose blastomycosis infection spreads beyond their lung.

Papules, pustules, or nodules are most frequently found on exposed body areas.

  • They may look like warts or ulcers.
  • They are usually painless.
  • They may vary from gray to violet in color.

The pustules may:

  • Form ulcers
  • Bleed easily
  • Occur in the nose or mouth

Over time, these skin lesions can lead to scarring and loss of skin color (pigment).

Signs and tests:

The infection is diagnosed by identifying the fungus in a culture taken from a skin lesion. This usually requires a skin biopsy.

  • Reviewed last on: 9/15/2010
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Kauffman CA. Blastomycosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 355.

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