Chronic paronychia, osteomyelitis, and paravertebral abscess in a child with blastomycosis

Blastomycosis is an unusual fungal infection in children. It is often a chronic infection characterized by granulomatous and suppurative lesions. Clinical manifestations include either pulmonary findings or disseminated disease. Disseminated blastomycosis usually begins with a lung infection that spreads to the skin, bones, and central nervous system. This is a case report of a child with chronic blastomycosis presenting with chronic paronychia, fever, cough, malaise, and back pain. The child underwent surgical drainage of a paravertebral abscess and administration of intravenous amphotericin B. He was discharged in good condition on oral therapy with ketoconazole. The literature on blastomycosis, with particular emphasis on clinical presentations and management, is reviewed. When the history and physical examination suggest a chronic granulomatous or disseminated disease, such as tuberculosis, the physician must include blastomycosis in the differential.