The Review of Histoplasmosis Endemicity and Current Status in Asia

Abstract

Histoplasmosis is a common disease among immunocompromised patients and a notable endemic disease among immunocompetent patients. Disseminated histoplas-mosis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients is mostly lethal. We conducted a literature review of histoplasmosis and histoplasmin skin test in Asia. There were around 1692 cases of histoplasmosis reported from Asian countries. India (623 cases), China (611 cases) and Thailand (234 cases) are detected as endemic areas of histoplasmosis although the complete mapping of this disease is still missing in some Asian countries. However, definite diagnosis is difficult since the symptoms frequently mimicking tuberculosis (TB), tissue samples are rarely obtained, and lacked of serology tests in Asian countries.