Coccidioidomycosis of the larynx in infants and adults

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease endemic to the southwestern United States. The primary form of the disease is relatively benign and many patients, after exposure by inhalation of the sapyrophytic form of the organism, convert from negative to positive skin testing without significant clinical symptoms. The less common disseminated form represents a serious life-threatening disease and can present with granulomatous changes in the larynx. The authors' experience with disseminated coccidioidomycosis presenting in the larynx of adults and infants successfully treated with amphotericin B are presented and discussed.