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Mycetoma

A Review

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Abstract

Mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous infection that is present worldwide and endemic in tropical and subtropical regions. The infection is caused by the traumatic inoculation of a fungus (eumycetoma) or a bacterium (actinomycetoma) and generally remains localized, causing cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue swelling, nodule formation, and drainage through sinus tracts. This review details the history of mycetoma, which may date as far back as the Byzantine period (300–600 AD), the epidemiology of the disease, which is characterized by an endemic region located between the latitudes of 15° south and 30° north, and the clinical presentation and treatment of mycetoma, focusing on the differences between eumycete and actinomycete infections. Diagnosis is established by identifying the type of grains found in the discharge, which guides treatment. Mycetoma caused by bacteria can usually be managed effectively with antibacterial medication alone, while infections with fungi require antifungal medication and surgery. Without proper treatment, mycetoma can lead to deformity, amputation, and death.

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Acknowledgments

The authors have no conflict of interests financially or otherwise with any subject matter discussed in this review. No sources of funding were used in the preparation of this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Vanessa Lichon

  2. Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, 530 First Avenue, Suite 7R, New York, New York, 10016, USA

    Amor Khachemoune

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  1. Vanessa Lichon
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  2. Amor Khachemoune
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Correspondence to Amor Khachemoune.

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Lichon, V., Khachemoune, A. Mycetoma. Am J Clin Dermatol 7, 315–321 (2006). https://doi.org/10.2165/00128071-200607050-00005

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