Coccidioidomycosis and pregnancy

Obstet Gynecol Surv. 1993 Mar;48(3):149-56. doi: 10.1097/00006254-199303000-00002.

Abstract

Pregnant women with respiratory symptoms of pleuritic pain and productive cough should undergo evaluation for coccidioidomycosis. This should include a history of travel or residency in endemic areas and careful assessment for toxic erythema, erythema nodosum, or erythema multiforme. To confirm a diagnosis of this disease, a sputum culture, wet mount, and serological tests should be performed. The risk of dissemination, which is highest in the second and third trimesters, can be estimated by a complement-fixation titer. In disseminated cases aggressive treatment with amphotericin B has improved the previously reported high maternal and neonatal mortality rate. Fortunately, case reports do not indicate that transplacental spread occurs. Reactivation or exacerbation of a chronic low-grade infection during pregnancy may occur in patients treated for prior disseminated disease (32, 34). Interestingly, both of the reported cases of reactivation or exacerbation occurred in insulin-dependent diabetics.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amphotericin B / administration & dosage
  • Coccidioidomycosis / diagnosis*
  • Coccidioidomycosis / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / diagnosis*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / drug therapy
  • Erythema Multiforme / diagnosis
  • Erythema Multiforme / drug therapy
  • Erythema Nodosum / diagnosis
  • Erythema Nodosum / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Fetal Death
  • Humans
  • Insulin Infusion Systems
  • Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis*
  • Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second
  • Pregnancy in Diabetics / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy in Diabetics / drug therapy

Substances

  • Amphotericin B