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BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Coccidioidomycosis in returned Australian travellers
S. Subedi, J. Broom, M. Caffery, M. Bint and D. Sowden
Nambour General Hospital, Nambour, Queensland, Australia
Key words
Coccidioidomycosis, Coccidioides, meningitis,
pneumonia, travellers, fungal infection.
Correspondence
Shradha Subedi, Nambour General Hospital,
Hospital Road, Nambour, Qld 4560, Australia.
Email: subedi_82@yahoo.com
Received 10 July 2011; accepted 21 November
2011.
doi:10.1111/j.1445-5994.2012.02855.x
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection caused by Coccidioides species. The disease has
wide clinical presentation and a distinct geographical distribution. We describe two cases
of coccidioidomycosis in returned Australian travellers who presented to Nambour
Hospital. Knowledge of the international geographical distribution of endemic fungal
infections and their clinical manifestations can assist in earlier diagnosis and appropriate
management.
A previously healthy 33-year-old Caucasian man pre-
sented to Nambour Hospital, Queensland with a 2-day
history of severe frontal headache associated with pho-
tophobia, fevers, rigors and neck stiffness. Two weeks
prior, he had presented to his general practitioner with
symptoms of a lower respiratory tract infection and had
received 7 days of oral amoxicillin-clavulanic acid with
clinical resolution of symptoms. There was no significant
Funding: None.
Conflict of interest: None.
© 2012 The Authors
Internal Medicine Journal © 2012 Royal Australasian College of Physicians 940