Pulmonary blastomycosis

Pulmonary blastomycosis is an invasive fungal respiratory infection caused by inhaling the conidia of thermally dimorphic fungi of the genus *Blastomyces*, primarily *Blastomyces dermatitidis* or *Blastomyces gilchristii* After deposition in the lower respiratory tract, the organism transitions into a pathogenic yeast phase that elicits a characteristic pyogranulomatous inflammatory response in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts

Pulmonary blastomycosis is an invasive fungal respiratory infection caused by inhaling the conidia of thermally dimorphic fungi of the genus *Blastomyces*, primarily *Blastomyces dermatitidis* or *Blastomyces gilchristii* After deposition in the lower respiratory tract, the organism transitions into a pathogenic yeast phase that elicits a characteristic pyogranulomatous inflammatory response in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts Clinical manifestations range from subclinical diseas...

Clinical manifestations range from subclinical disease or acute, self-limited pneumonia presenting with fever, cough, and chest pain to chronic, progressive pulmonary illness marked by consolidation, cavitation, or mass-like infiltrates that can mimic tuberculosis or malignancy

Clinical manifestations range from subclinical disease or acute, self-limited pneumonia presenting with fever, cough, and chest pain to chronic, progressive pulmonary illness marked by consolidation, cavitation, or mass-like infiltrates that can mimic tuberculosis or malignancy

Severe disease can rapidly lead to respiratory failure or acute respiratory distress syndrome, with the potential for hematogenous dissemination to extrapulmonary sites such as the skin, bone, and central nervous system