blastomycosis

blastomycosis
—blastomycotic /blas'toh muy kot"ik/, adj.
/blas'toh muy koh"sis/, n. Pathol.
any of several diseases caused by certain yeastlike fungi, esp. blastomycetes.
[1895-1900; < NL; see BLASTO-, MYCOSIS]

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      infection of the skin and viscera caused by fungal organisms of the genus Blastomyces. There are two major types of blastomycosis: the North American, caused by B. dermatitidis, and the South American, caused by B. brasiliensis. In North American blastomycosis, skin and lung lesions are most common: pulmonary lesions vary in size from granulomatous nodules to confluent, diffuse areas of pus-forming inflammation involving the entire lobe of the lung. In the skin, micro-abscesses lie just beneath the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, and are associated with a granulomatous appearance of the surrounding skin.

      In South American blastomycosis, the portal of entry is usually the nasopharynx (the part of the alimentary canal between the cavity of the mouth and the esophagus that is continuous with the nasal passages); swelling and ulceration of the mouth or nose may cause the infection to spread to the nearby lymph nodes; primary lesions may also occur in the lymphoid tissues in the lower abdomen. In both North and South American varieties, the infection may spread not only to the lymph nodes but also to such organs as the brain, bones, liver, spleen, and adrenals.

      Treatment includes the use of antibiotics, antifungal agents, and sulfonamide drugs. See also chromoblastomycosis; cryptococcosis.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • blastomycosis — lastomycosis n. any of several fungal infections caused by blastomycetes; they are characterized by inflammatory lesions of skin and mucous membranes or internal organs. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • blastomycosis — [blas΄tōmī kō′sis, blas΄təmī kō′sis] n. [ BLASTO + MYCOSIS] any disease caused by a blastomycete …   English World dictionary

  • Blastomycosis — Blasto redirects here. For the video game, see Blasto (video game). The term South American blastomycosis is sometimes used to describe infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis,[1] though the term Paracoccidioidomycosis is more frequently… …   Wikipedia

  • blastomycosis — A chronic granulomatous and suppurative disease caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis; originates as a respiratory infection and disseminates, usually with pulmonary, osseous, and/or cutaneous involvement predominating. Formerly called North… …   Medical dictionary

  • blastomycosis — n. any disease caused by parasitic fungi of the genus Blastomyces, which may affect the skin (forming wartlike ulcers and tumours on the face, neck, hands, arms, feet, and legs) or involve various internal tissues, such as the lungs, bones, liver …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • blastomycosis — noun Etymology: New Latin, from Blastomyces, fungus genus, from blast + Greek mykēs fungus; akin to Greek myxa mucus more at mucus Date: circa 1900 any of several fungal infections; especially an infectious disease caused by a yeast fungus… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • blastomycosis — (blas to mi ko sis) A systemic fungal infection caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis and marked by suppurating tumors in the skin or by lesions in the lungs …   Dictionary of microbiology

  • blastomycosis — noun A fungal infection caused by the organism Blastomyces dermatitidis, endemic to parts of North America, whose clinical symptoms resemble those of histoplasmosis …   Wiktionary

  • blastomycosis — n. infection of the skin or mucous membrane caused by a blastomycete (parasitic fungus) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • blastomycosis — [ˌblastə(ʊ)mʌɪ kəʊsɪs] noun Medicine a disease of the skin or internal organs caused by infection with parasitic fungi. Origin from mod. L. genus name Blastomyces …   English new terms dictionary

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