Patients experiencing homelessness (PEH) suffer from a high burden of cutaneous fungal infections. Preventative treatment is important as such infections can lead to harmful complications such as cellulitis and even osteomyelitis. There are sparse data regarding cutaneous fungal infections of homeless populations and management in low-resource settings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCombined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is an underrecognized syndrome that involves simultaneous restrictive-obstructive lung disease. The prognosis is poor, and it frequently occurs with comorbidities. Heavy or former smoking is a major risk factor, and computed tomography (CT) typically shows lower zone fibrosis and upper zone emphysema.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States. It is characterized by increased patient morbidity and mortality due to the many complications that can arise. Certain dermatological findings can be indicative of poorly controlled DM and can be a useful clue to further management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLichen planus is a chronic inflammatory cutaneous and mucosal disease mostly affecting middle-aged individuals. The etiology of lichen planus is unknown, but current literature suggests that it is an altered immune response characterized by dysregulated T-cell activation and subsequent inflammation which can be associated with conditions like allergic contact dermatitis and hepatitis C. Additionally, heavy metals like lead, tin, arsenic, and bismuth can create inflammatory and allergic reactions that can predispose to the formation of lichen planus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an ulcerating dermatosis associated with various chronic medical conditions. Its exact etiology is unknown but likely a function of inflammation and immune dysregulation. Treatment of PG generally follows a stepwise approach which involves extensive testing, biopsies, and potentially systemic therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCommon variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary immunodeficiency caused by the lack of B cell differentiation into plasma cells, thereby leading to decreased serum immunoglobulins. Patients with this condition are predisposed to recurrent infections and are more likely to develop certain cancers and autoimmune diseases. We report the case of a 53-year-old female suffering from recurrent pulmonary infections and a history of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who had a poor response to the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and varicella vaccines as a child, and was infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) twice in 2020.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeripheral eosinophilia is a potentially concerning finding that can occur due to a multitude of causes. One such cause is latent helminth infections such as Strongyloides stercoralis. These parasites have broad distributions throughout the developing world, particularly South and Southeast Asia and it is estimated that roughly 200 million people have latent infections.
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