{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T12:53:00Z","timestamp":1785761580693,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,1]],"date-time":"2026-08-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785542400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J. Fungi","JoF"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a neglected systemic mycosis in Latin America. This study aims to characterize the epidemiology and clinical profiles of infant PCM cases (0 to 14 years old) over a 15-year period (2008\u20132023) in the two primary endemic regions of Argentina, the northeast (NEA) and the northwest (NWA) areas. Results reveal striking regional heterogeneity. Distribution showed clear disparities, 71.1% of cases were recorded in NWA, while 28.9% in the NEA area. The NWA region exhibited a constant temporal occurrence, whereas the NEA showed episodic occurrence\/outbreaks potentially triggered by anthropogenic and climatic changes. Severe nutritional impairment and generalized lymphadenopathy were common clinical signs in both regions. Hepatosplenic enlargement and abdominal compromise with gastrointestinal manifestations dominated in the NWA (53.1%), while a higher prevalence of cutaneous\/mucocutaneous (76.9%), pulmonary (38.4%) and osteoarticular (38.4%) manifestations characterized the clinical profiles in the NEA. These findings support the existence of distinct regional epidemiological and clinical phenotypes of pediatric PCM in Argentina. Recognizing these disparities is essential to improve clinical suspicion, diagnostic strategies, and the implementation of effective public health strategies for this severe pediatric disease.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jof12080568","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T11:50:21Z","timestamp":1785757821000},"page":"568","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Regional Heterogeneity and Temporal Trends of Infant-Juvenile Paracoccidioidomycosis in Argentina: A 15-Year Comparative Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4696-4158","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gustavo","family":"Giusiano","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento Micolog\u00eda, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional de Nordeste, CONICET, Resistencia 3500, Argentina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yone","family":"Chac\u00f3n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital Se\u00f1or del Milagro, Salta 4400, Argentina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alejandra","family":"Aguilera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital P\u00fablico Materno Infantil, Salta 4400, Argentina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Diana","family":"Aguirre","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital Pedi\u00e1trico Avelino Castel\u00e1n, Resistencia 3500, Argentina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Clarisa","family":"Aguirre","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital Pedi\u00e1trico Juan Pablo II, Corrientes 3400, Argentina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Martin Nazr","family":"Usandivaras","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital P\u00fablico Materno Infantil, Salta 4400, Argentina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Teresa","family":"Corallo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital Pedi\u00e1trico Avelino Castel\u00e1n, Resistencia 3500, Argentina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ruth","family":"Valdez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital Se\u00f1or del Milagro, Salta 4400, Argentina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lorena Damiana","family":"Altamirano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital Materno Infantil H\u00e9ctor Quintana, Jujuy 4600, Argentina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andrea","family":"V\u00e1zquez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Servicio de Microbiolog\u00eda, Hospital 4 de Junio Ram\u00f3n Carrillo, Roque S\u00e1enz Pe\u00f1a 3700, Argentina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mar\u00eda de los \u00c1ngeles","family":"Sosa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento Micolog\u00eda, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional de Nordeste, CONICET, Resistencia 3500, Argentina"},{"name":"Laboratorio Central de Redes y Programas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes 3400, Argentina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3401-4139","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Javier","family":"Mussin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento Micolog\u00eda, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional de Nordeste, CONICET, Resistencia 3500, Argentina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7362-6755","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Florencia","family":"Rojas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento Micolog\u00eda, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional de Nordeste, CONICET, Resistencia 3500, Argentina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Griffiths, J., Colombo, A.L., and Denning, D.W. 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