Lobomycosis is a disease that is endemic to the Amazon rainforest and is caused by the still uncultured fungus Lacazia loboi. This disease occurs in loggers, farmers, miners, fishermen, and persons living near coastal rivers of this region. We report 6 soldiers in Colombia in whom lobomycosis developed after military service in the Amazon area. The patients had nodular and keloid-like lesions on the face, neck, trunk, and limbs. The duration of illness ranged from 2 years to 15 years. The initial diagnosis was leishmaniasis on the basis of clinical manifestations and direct smear results, but biopsies confirmed the final diagnosis of lobomycosis. Treatment with surgical excision, itraconazole and clofazimine was satisfactory. However, the follow-up time was short. Healthcare professionals responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases need to be able to recognize the clinical signs of lobomycosis and differentiate them from those of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Several foci of lobomycosis among Colombian Amer Indians population were described in the Casanare region of Colombia, near the Orinoco river on the Colombian-Venezuelan border. This paper reports 16 new patients. The prevalence of Lobo's disease was 8.5% in the Amoruas tribe. Nodular lesions were located on the elbow, scapular and lumbar regions, knees, feet and legs. Leg lesions were especially numerous, were confluent and tended to ulcerate. All cases were confirmed histologically. Two Negro patients were also described. The cases bring the total number of confirmed patients with lobomycosis in Colombia to 41. Twenty-five of these were Amer Indian patients from tribes living in the Orinoco and Amazon basins of the country.
Presentamos el caso de un hombre campesino de 33 años de edad, inmunocompetente, quien presentó cuadro clínico agudo con máculas, pápulas y vesículas simultáneas, generalizadas, de 10 dias de evolución, con fiebre y conjuntivitis. Se sospechó varicela, la cual se confirmó con frotis directo y biopsia de piel con inmunohistoquímica. El paciente mejoró y curó sin complicaciones y sin tratamiento antiviral. Es un caso interesante al tratarse de un hombre adulto, sin inmunosupresión ni enfermedad de base predisponente, con manifestaciones floridas e importante compromiso cutáneo, con evolución satisfactoria. Revisamos aspectos generales de la varicela, de su incidencia en Colombia y de los programas de vacunación.
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