Urine antigen detection of blastomycosis in pediatric patients

Blastomycosis is an uncommonly recognized disease in pediatric patients. We describe 4 cases of pediatric blastomycosis that presented to our children's hospital, 2 with isolated pulmonary blastomycosis and 2 with disseminated blastomycosis. Because of variable clinical presentations and morbidity if treatment is delayed, physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion and obtain appropriate diagnostic tests promptly. For the first time, we report the effect of therapy on Blastomyces antigen clearance. In our experience, the urine antigen detection for B. dermatitidis is useful for diagnosis and follow up during therapy.