Introduction
Penicilliosis is a tuberculosis-like fungal disease caused by Talaromyces (formerly Penicillium) marneffei
–It is most common in northeastern India, Thailand, Vietnam,Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong
-it most often affects patients with advanced HIV
-it is a dimorphic fungus; grows as a mold that produces a distinctive rose-colored pigment and as yeast-like cells that reproduce with septal formation
-it is acquired by spore inhalation
Symptoms & Signs
-It usually presents as a pulmonary disease or disseminated disease
-Fever, fatigue, cough, weight loss, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, generalized umbilicated papular rash resembling molluscum contagiosum
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is made by culture or by histology
-it forms characteristic yeast-like cells which are divided by a septum and produce a characteristic red pigment
Treatment
The treatment of choice consists of amphotericin B followed by itraconazole