Mycoses associated with AIDS in the Third World

Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, the epidemiological status of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is far from under control in most of the developing world. Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and Ind ia show increased rates of new infections. In Latin America and the Caribbe an there were 1.6 million estimated cases of HIV-infected patients at the e nd of 1997. Fungal diseases have been one of the most relevant diagnoses in relation to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Infections due to Candida species and Cryptococcus neoformans var, neoformans are common w orldwide. Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis and Penicillium marn effei are important causes of disease in endemic areas. Infection due to Sp orothrix schenckii, Blastomyces dermatitidis and Paracoccidioides brasilien sis are uncommon even where they are endemic. Phaeohyphomycetes, hyalohypho mycetes and zygomycetes are still rare as a cause of disease among AIDS pat ients, However, agents pertaining to these groups, such as Aspergillus spp. , have an increasing incidence. Superficial mycoses due to dermatophytes ha ve special features from epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic points o f view.