Pulmonary Blastomycosis in Children: Amphotericin B Therapy and a Review

Two children, aged 3 months and 4 years, respectively, were treated with ten weeks of amphotericin B for culture proved pulmonary blastomycosis. Organisms were easily demonstrated in nasopharyngeal or sputum specimens on admission. Although organisms were present until the 12th and 19th days of therapy, respectively, they were viable through only the seventh and 12th days of therapy. Both patients had thrombophlebitis, anemia, neutropenia, hypokalemia, fever, and vomiting develop during therapy. The less toxic drug hydroxystilbamidine isethionate, given for only 17 to 30 days, has been used successfully in at least six previously reported cases. Long courses of amphotericin B therapy may not be necessary for the treatment of pulmonary blastomycosis in selected children.