Skin lesion of blastomycosis

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Fungus

Skin symptoms occur in about 80% of people whose blastomycosis infection spreads beyond their lung.

Papules, pustules, or nodules are most frequently found on exposed body areas.

• They may look like warts or ulcers.
• They are usually painless.
• They may vary from gray to violet in color.

The pustules may:

• Form ulcers
• Bleed easily
• Occur in the nose or mouth

Over time, these skin lesions can lead to scarring and loss of skin color (pigment).

The infection is diagnosed by identifying the fungus in a culture taken from a skin lesion. This usually requires a skin biopsy.

Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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