Question:

A patient presents with chronic cough, weight loss, and intermittent low-grade fever. Fungal culture from respiratory samples shows a yeast with narrow-based budding. Which of the following is the most probable diagnosis?

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Chronic pulmonary illness with small yeast forms and narrow-based budding suggests histoplasmosis.
Updated On: May 14, 2026
  • Blastomycosis
  • Histoplasmosis
  • Cryptococcosis
  • Coccidioidomycosis
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Concept: Histoplasmosis is caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. In tissue or culture, it may appear as small yeast forms with narrow-based budding. It commonly causes pulmonary symptoms and may mimic tuberculosis.

Step 1:
Identify clinical presentation.
The patient has: \[ \text{Chronic cough + weight loss + low-grade fever} \] This suggests a chronic pulmonary infection.

Step 2:
Use fungal morphology.
The fungal culture shows: \[ \text{Yeast with narrow-based budding} \]

Step 3:
Choose diagnosis.
Among the options, this is most consistent with: \[ \text{Histoplasmosis} \]
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