The exanthem of acute pulmonary coccidioidomycosis - Clinical and histopathologic features of 3 cases and review of the literature

Background: Coccidioidomycosis may be associated with a reactive generalized cutaneous eruption early in the course of the illness. Detailed descriptions in the literature are scarce. Observations: We describe 3 patients with a florid eruption associated with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. The exanthem mimicked erythema multiforme clinically but not histologically. in 2 of the patients, the eruption began before the presence of detectable antibodies in the serum. Conclusion: The presence of the exanthem, in combination with fever and/or pneumonia, was a helpful clue to the diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis.