Background:The literature on pediatric extrapulmonary coccidioidomycosis is limited. We reviewed the clinical course, diagnostic studies, treatment and outcomes of children with extrapulmonary coccidioidomycosis followed at a tertiary care center in central California. Methods: Retrospective study of 78 patients ≤21 years old with extrapulmonary coccidioidomycosis diagnosed over 10 years (1/1/07-12/31/16). Results: The median age was 9.7 years (interquartile range, 4.5-14.8). The majority of patients were males (55%), Hispanic (65%) and without comorbid conditions (85%). Over two-thirds (68%) had concurrent pulmonary disease. Organ involvements included bones and joints (33%), mediastinum (19%), central nervous system (19%), cervical lymph nodes (15%), larynx (6%) and skin (5%). Most cases (84%) resolved and/or became stable on maintenance therapy, 14% experienced relapse and/or progressive disease, and 2% were fatal. Children ≥10 years of age tended to have >1 site of involvement (47% vs. 25%, P = 0.06), and more relapsed/progressive/fatal disease (21% vs. 5%, P = 0.06) compared with those <10 years. They also required longer durations of treatment (median, 611 vs. 349 days, P = 0.02). Non-Hispanics were more likely to require >1 drug therapy (85% vs. 70%, P = 0.04) and tended to have Coccidioides complement fixation titers ≥1:32 (89% vs. 72%, P = 0.04) compared with Hispanics. Conclusions: Extrapulmonary coccidioidomycosis in children can be severe and spread to multiple sites and requires prolonged treatment. Non-Hispanics and those ≥10 years of age are more likely to experience severe disease, suggesting a need for early recognition and intervention in these populations.

This study was funded by the UC Merced Blum Center (to D.M.O. and K.K.H.), Valley Children's Healthcare (to F.

Coccidioidal meningitis remains difficult to treat. The newer triazole, isavuconazole, has demonstrated efficacy in invasive fungal disease with less side effects than other azoles. We describe a case of refractory pediatric coccidioidal meningitis with disease stabilization and improvement on isavuconazole after failing treatment with other antifungal agents.

Objective To describe the characteristics of benign and malignant mediastinal masses, which may predict their etiology and facilitate the safe and timely management of patients, especially those residing in histoplasmosis-endemic regions. Study design We conducted a retrospective review of the health records of 131 patients aged <19 years who were referred to two tertiary care children's hospitals from 2005-2010 for the evaluation of mediastinal masses. Results Most patients (79%) had benign masses, including 98 with confirmed or suspected histoplasmosis. Overall, patients with benign etiologies were younger, more likely to be African American, more likely to complain of cough and to have pulmonary nodules by chest computed tomographs than patients with cancer. Patients with malignant disease were more likely to complain of malaise and to have neck swelling, abnormal extrathoracic lymphadenopathy, lymphopenia, anterior mediastinal involvement and/or pleural effusion. Positive histoplasmosis serologic tests were specific but insensitive for a benign etiology. No single clinical, laboratory or radiologic feature was sufficiently sensitive and specific to distinguish between benign and malignant masses. For cancer, however, the presence of lymphopenia, anterior mediastinal involvement or enlarged cervical lymph nodes on computerized tomography had a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 95%, positive predictive value of 86%, and negative predictive value of 97% for cancer. Sixty-four patients (49%) underwent invasive testing, including 37 (36%) of patients with benign masses. Conclusions Patients in this series who had involvement of the anterior mediastinum, lymphopenia or enlarged cervical lymph nodes had a high likelihood of cancer. Expectant management of patients lacking these characteristics may be safe and reduce unnecessary invasive testing.