Question

In a bone marrow transplant recipient, fever (indicative of systemic infection), pulmonary symptoms (cough and chest pain), and sinus symptoms (localized headache, nasal bleedings) suggest an invasive fungal infection, most probably ___

Answer 1

In a bone marrow transplant patient, systemic infection symptoms such as fever, cough, and sinus issues may suggest an invasive fungal infection like aspergillosis, histoplasmosis, or cryptococcosis, requiring prompt attention and treatment with antifungal medications.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a bone marrow transplant recipient, the presence of fever, cough, chest pain, localized headache, and nasal bleeding may suggest an invasive fungal infection such as aspergillosis, histoplasmosis, or cryptococcosis. After inhaling the fungal spores, they can grow and cause infections in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Histoplasmosis, caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, shares similarities with tuberculosis, as it can cause fever, headache, and pulmonary symptoms, and both may initially present with similar chest radiograph findings.

Cryptococcosis, caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, can also cause systemic symptoms and has the potential to disseminate to the central nervous system, leading to meningitis. Aspergillosis should also be considered given its ability to disseminate from pulmonary sites to the central nervous system and cause similar symptoms. The treatment of these diseases often requires antifungal medications like amphotericin B, which can have serious side effects, making early and accurate diagnosis crucial.