TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 242. Fungal Respiratory Infections A1 - Hakim, Hana A1 - Gaur, Aditya H. A2 - Rudolph, Colin D. A2 - Rudolph, Abraham M. A2 - Lister, George E. A2 - First, Lewis R. A2 - Gershon, Anne A. PY - 2011 T2 - Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e AB - Fungi are ubiquitous in our environment and uncommon respiratory pathogens in the immunocompetent host; they usually present with no or mild symptoms that are self-limiting. In an immunocompromised host these infections can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality.Given that most symptomatic fungal infections present with nonspecific findings, early diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, close attention to a patient’s clinical course, and interpretation of the patient’s findings within the context of host immune status. They are categorized into two groups—those that cause endemic mycoses and those classified as opportunistic pathogens (Table 242-1). Included under endemic mycosis are two fungi, Sporothrix schenckii and Penicillium marneffei, that are not always thought of in this category but that share some similarities with others in this group. Included as an opportunistic pathogen is Pneumocystis jirovecii, an organism previously called Pneumocystic carinii and at one time thought to be protozoa. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/25 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7023943 ER -