Pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent children presenting with chest pain:Three case reports  

作　　者：Xiao-Nan Li Jie-Hua Chen Zhi-Wei Lu 

机构地区：[1]Department of Respiratory Diseases,Shenzhen Children's Hospital,Shenzhen 518038,Guangdong Province,China [2]Department of Respiratory,Shenzhen Children’s Hospital,Shenzhen 518038,Guangdong Province,China

出　　处：《World Journal of Clinical Cases》2025年第16期46-51,共6页世界临床病例杂志(英文)

基　　金：Supported by Shenzhen Fund for Guangdong Provincial High-Level Clinical Key Specialties,No.SZGSP012;Shenzhen Key Medical Discipline Construction Fund,No.SZXK032。

摘　　要：BACKGROUND Cryptococcus is a systemic opportunistic pathogenic fungus that can cause infections in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts,with diverse clinical manifestations,ranging from asymptomatic pulmonary lesions to disseminated central nervous system infections.The incidence of pulmonary cryptococcosis(PC)has rapidly increased in recent years,with an increasing proportion of non-human immunodeficiency virus-infected and immunocompetent patients making its diagnosis challenging.If not properly recognized,PC can lead to systemic dissemination and high mortality rates.Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the prognosis.This study summarizes the clinical features of three immunocompetent children with PC who presented with chest pain to raise clinicians'awareness of the disease and reduce mortality.CASE SUMMARY Three male pediatric patients in good health were hospitalized because of chest pain without cough or fever.Chest computed tomography(CT)revealed pleuralbased nodules and consolidation with cavitation.A lung biopsy was performed in one case,and Cryptococcus was cultured from the pathological tissues.Cryptococcus was detected in the alveolar lavage fluid,and serum Cryptococcus capsular(C.capsular)polysaccharide antigen was positive in one case,and the other case was positive for serum C.capsular polysaccharide.All patients received oral fluconazole treatment.Follow-up chest CT scans after six months showed significant resolution of the lesions.CONCLUSION PC can also occur in immunocompetent children.When encountering children with chest pain only in the clinic,one should be vigilant about PC,promptly complete the relevant examinations,and avoid misdiagnosis.

关 键 词：CRYPTOCOCCUS Chest pain Children Immune function Pulmonary cryptococcosis Case report 

分 类 号：R73[医药卫生—肿瘤]