Cutaneous Histoplasmosis in Patients with HIV: A Brief Review

Due to advancements in diagnostic techniques and global trends in HIV, histoplasmosis-a fungal infection caused by Histoplasma (H.) capsulatum-is increasingly spreading in non-endemic areas. Although it is not considered endemic in Pakistan, research indicates that the majority of the population has not exposed to H. capsulatum. Nevertheless, cutaneous histoplasmosis, although rare, is an important clinical manifestation among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) and is frequently linked to widespread illness. H. capsulatum grows best in places where bats serve as primary reservoirs, such as humid places, ancient buildings, and contaminated soil. In immunocompetent individuals, infection frequently presents as a self-limiting pneumonia or is asymptomatic. However, in immunocompromised hosts-especially infected with HIV-the infection spreads via the haematogenous route, affecting the skin and other organs. Key Words: Cutaneous histoplasmosis, H. capsulatum, Immunocompromised.