Coccidioidomicose no Brasil - uma revisão de literatura

Abstract

Coccidioidomycosis (CMD) is a disease caused by Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii and is associated with agricultural and hunting activities. These fungi preferentially inhabit regions of desert climates, produce infectious arthoconidia in the soil that can be aerosolized in the air and, when inhaled by humans, can cause systemic infections. Thus, the present study presents a literature review on coccidioidomycosis, addressing important aspects of the disease such as: characterization of the pathogen, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment, as well as describing the history of this pathology in Brazil. Its elaboration was made possible through the use of national and international publications of articles, scientific journals, dissertations and theses in bibliographic databases such as: SCIELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online), VHL (Virtual Health Library), Portal CAPES and Pubmed, published in the last 30 years, from 1989 to 2019. Coccidioidomycosis is considered a public health issue, as it has a difficult diagnosis and treatment that is often nonspecific and is often confused with other respiratory diseases, wich can lead the patient to death. In 2018, Pernambuco had its first case of CMD reported in scientific literature in the municipality of Serra Talhada. Until 2007, cases of CMD were registered only in four northeastern states (Ceará, Piauí, Bahia and Maranhão).