In simple words: Cutaneous blastomycosis is a skin infection caused by a fungus. You might get it by breathing in spores from the environment. It can cause sores or wart-like bumps on your skin, often on your face, neck, and arms or legs. Sometimes, it can also affect your lungs. Doctors diagnose it by looking at your skin, asking about your travel history, and doing some tests. Treatment usually involves antifungal medicines.

Cutaneous blastomycosis is a fungal infection affecting the skin. It typically arises as a complication of a primary pulmonary infection caused by inhaling spores of the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis, commonly found in moist soil and decaying vegetation. The infection manifests as ulcerative or wart-like lesions, initially appearing as pus-filled papules or nodules that eventually crust over. These lesions predominantly occur on the face, neck, and extremities, sometimes accompanied by signs of pulmonary involvement. Diagnosis involves considering travel history to endemic areas, physical examination, and laboratory tests such as blood tests for antibodies, fungal cultures, and skin biopsies. Imaging studies like chest X-rays and CT scans may be used to assess lung involvement. Treatment usually involves antifungal medications.

Example 1: A patient presents with ulcerative skin lesions on the face and neck after a camping trip in the Mississippi River Valley. A skin biopsy confirms the diagnosis of cutaneous blastomycosis., A patient with a history of pulmonary blastomycosis develops new wart-like lesions on their arms.The lesions are diagnosed as cutaneous blastomycosis, representing dissemination of the initial infection., A patient with a compromised immune system develops widespread cutaneous blastomycosis with associated lung involvement, requiring treatment with amphotericin B.

Documentation should include details of the patient's symptoms, travel history, physical examination findings, laboratory results (blood tests, cultures, biopsy), and imaging results. The extent and type of skin lesions (ulcerative or verrucous) should be described. Any evidence of pulmonary involvement should also be documented.