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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Paracoccidioidomycosis risk factors

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Common risk factors in the development of paracoccidioidomycosis disease include: age, gender, poor hygiene, occupation, malnutrition, tabacco and alcohol consumption.[1][2]

Risk Factors

Risk Factors

Common risk factors in the development of paracoccidioidomycosis disease are:

Age

  • Only 5% of all paracoccidioidomycosis cases are among children and young adults from 6-16 years.[3] The majority of cases affect men from 30-60 years.[4]

Gender

  • Men have a higher incidence than women. Paracoccidioides spp. has 17-b estradiol receptor, this feminine hormone inhibits the fungus transformation from mycelial to yeast, which is necessary for the infections evolution.[4]

Poor hygiene

Occupation

Malnutrition and immunodeficiency

  • Paracoccidioidomycosis can act as an opportunistic infection in endemic areas.[5] Some studies suggest that malnutrition is not only a risk factor, it also is due to the disease.[6]

Tobacco consumption

  • Tobacco alters the mucociliary activity, decreases immunity and diminishes the reaction of macrophages; therefore it eases the development of the infection.[2]

Alcohol consumption

  • Alcohol is thought to be a risk factor. However the associated about the alcohol consumption and PCM is unconfirmed and could be confunded by with smoking.[2]
References

References

  1. ↑ de Oliveira HC, Assato PA, Marcos CM, Scorzoni L, de Paula E Silva AC, Da Silva Jde F; et al. (2015). “Paracoccidioides-host Interaction: An Overview on Recent Advances in the Paracoccidioidomycosis”. Front Microbiol. 6: 1319. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2015.01319. PMC 4658449. PMID 26635779.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Magalhães EM, Ribeiro Cde F, Dâmaso CS, Coelho LF, Silva RR, Ferreira EB; et al. (2014). “Prevalence of paracoccidioidomycosis infection by intradermal reaction in rural areas in Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil”. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 56 (4): 281–5. PMC 4131811. PMID 25076426.
  3. ↑ Manns B.J, Baylis B.W, Urbanski S.J, Gibb A.P, Rabin H.R. Paracoccidioidomycosis: Case Report and Review. CID. 1996; 23: 1026-1032
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Vargas J, Vargas R. Paracoccidiodomicosis. Rev. enferm. infecc. trop.2009;1:49-56
  5. ↑ Brummer E, Castaneda E, Restrepo A. Paracoccidioidomycosis: An Update. ‘Clin. Microbiol. Rev.1993;6(2):89-117
  6. ↑ Pereira R, Bucaretchi F, Barison E, Hessel G, Tresoldi A. Paracoccidioidomycosis in children: clinical presentation, follow-up and outcome. Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo. 2004;46(3): 127-131

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Danitza Lukac