Mycetoma is most frequently encountered among males between 20-50 years living in countries along the equator. The prevalence is mostly seen in Mexico, Venezuela, Somalia, Senegal, Yemen, Sudan, and India. Inoculation of the organism after trauma is the predominant mode of infection, which is perhaps one of the reasons why the condition is more common among barefoot-walking populations [1] [2] [3]. Peasants and agriculture workers are at a particular risk for acquiring mycetoma, making occupational factors important in the pathogenesis [3]. A painless, firm mass containing numerous communicating nodules and abscesses is the typical lesion of mycetoma [1] [3] [4]. The feet are affected in the majority of cases, while hands and the trunk are other potential sites [3]. Nodular communication through the development of fistulas results in the release of a syrup-like purulent or seropurulent discharge that contains grains formed by the causative agent [5]. In some patients, a prolonged infection can lead to dissemination of pathogens into the skeletal system and the systemic circulation, causing bacteremia or even life-threatening sepsis [2]. The clinical course of mycetoma (also know as Madura's foot, named after the Indian endemic region of Madura) is rapid and amputation may be frequently indicated due to the extreme disfiguring of the distal extremities by nodular breakdown [2].

• Localized Pain

  Local pain was reported in 27% of the patients, and only 12% had a family history of mycetoma. The study showed that 57% of the patients had previous surgical excisions and recurrence, and only 4% received previous medical treatment for mycetoma. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Local pain is mild or absent, and it worsens only in later stages with more subcutaneous tissue damage or with secondary bacterial infection. Mycetoma has little effect on the general condition of the affected patient and fever is rare [2]. [dermnetnz.org]

• Pleural Effusion

  Lung involvement with pleural effusion can occur secondary to contiguous spread of the disease from mycetoma involving chest wall. Similarly, mycetoma of leg, thighs and perineum may cause abdominal and visceral involvement. [dermatologyadvisor.com]

• Joint Stiffness

  Chronic periarticular fibrosis manifests as joint stiffness, and chronic pressure and inactivity due to swelling result in osteoporosis. Systemic complications The infection never spreads hematogenously. [dermatologyadvisor.com]

• Diplopia

  A 31-year-old non-immunocompromised male patient presented with complaints of left hemifacial pain for 1 year and diplopia on looking toward left side for a period of 2 weeks. On examination, he had ipsilateral sixth nerve paresis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Skin Ulcer

  Ulcer and Pyoderma 141 21 Cellulitis and Erysipelas 151 Necrotizing Fasciitis 157 23 Human and Animal Bites 161 24 Lice Scabies and Myiasis 167 25 Superficial Fungal Diseases of the Hair Skin and Nails 173 Figure 2510 Method for 179 26 Mycetoma Madura [books.google.es]

• Facial Ulceration

  We report the case of a 13-year-old male patient who received 5-year-old cervico-facial ulcer tumefaction, 6 months after mental trauma, and long-term herbal treatment. [medcraveonline.com]

• Paresis

  On examination, he had ipsilateral sixth nerve paresis. Investigations revealed a large paranasal sinus lesion that extended in the cavernous sinus. The lesion was partially resected. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

A properly obtained patient history containing information about the course of symptoms and occupancy may reveal the possible mode of infection and consequently, the underlying pathogen. Moreover, communicating nodular lesions and syrup-like exudate can be observed during a physical examination, which could be sufficient to make a presumptive diagnosis. In fact, the color of grains can indicate the cause of mycetoma in active phases of the disease - white, yellow or red grains are suggestive of bacterial etiology, while fungal grains are usually black or pale [2] [6]. To confirm mycetoma, however, several diagnostic procedures should be used [6]:

• Imaging studies - X-rays, computed tomography (CT), ultrasonography, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the affected limb are necessary for determining the extent of lesions and the damage caused to the musculoskeletal, vascular and subcutaneous tissues [4] [6].
• Microbiology - In order to define optimal therapy, identification of the causative agent is imperative and procedures such as fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or deep-seated biopsy are necessary to obtain a valid sample for an investigation [6]. Subsequent microscopic examination (using various stains) or cultivation using gram and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stains are recommended techniques to discern between eumycetoma and bacterial pathogens. Skin tests using antigens of actinomycetes and serology have shown to be ineffective diagnostic tools, but the use of molecular methods - polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to detect bacterial or fungal DNA in the lesions is demonstrating excellent results. Its availability in general practice, however, is yet to occur, especially in endemic countries [2] [6].

• Fonsecaea Pedrosoi

  On the other hand, histopathology and fungal culture confirmed it to be a case of chromoblastomycosis caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Pleural Effusion

  Lung involvement with pleural effusion can occur secondary to contiguous spread of the disease from mycetoma involving chest wall. Similarly, mycetoma of leg, thighs and perineum may cause abdominal and visceral involvement. [dermatologyadvisor.com]

Clinical studies of treatments including an NSAID should be conducted to confirm this finding. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Treatment must be continued until the patient is cured. The mean duration of treatment is usually more than one year. [mycetoma.edu.sd]

Prognosis The prognosis is poor for fungal mycetomas. The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. [orpha.net]

Strong clinical suspicion, exact categorization of lesion into eumycotic or actinomycotic along with culture correlation, is essential for prognosis and effective therapy. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The etiologic agents range from bacteria to fungi existing free in nature as soil or plant saprophytes gaining entrance into the tissues through abrasion or implantation. Actinomycetoma is caused by aerobic species of actinomycetes. [aspergillus.org.uk]

Abstract Medical treatment of mycetoma depends on its fungal or bacterial etiology. Clinically, these entities share similar features that can confuse diagnosis, causing a lack of therapeutic response due to inappropriate treatment. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Complete patients' characteristics and etiological agents are reported in Table 1. In 2 cases, the infection was acquired in India, in 2 in Ethiopia, an in 1 case each in Senegal, Tanzania, Honduras, and Italy. [karger.com]

Etiologies included 13 actinomycetomas and 2 eumycetomas. Etiologic agents were Nocardia brasiliensis in 12 cases, Nocardia asteroides in one and Madurella mycetomatis in 2. [journals.lww.com]

Eumycetoma and actinomycetoma–an update on causative agents, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostics and therapy. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2015;29:1873-1883. van de Sande WW. [afwgonline.com]

In this retrospective study we report epidemiologic, clinical and microbiologic data of mycetoma observed in the General Hospital of Mexico in a 33 year-period (1980 to 2013). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Her research interest focuses on invasive fungal infections to improve diagnostic and treatment strategies through a better understanding of the epidemiology […] [research.pasteur.fr]

Hence, paradoxical responses in context other than mycobacterial infection in an immunocompromised host could provide insights into the pathophysiology and the optimal strategy for treatment. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Pathophysiology The body parts affected most commonly in persons with mycetoma include the foot or lower leg, with infection of the dorsal aspect of the forefoot being typical. [avensonline.org]

European College of Veterinary Pathologists Topics and areas of interest Host-pathogen interactions; Pathophysiology of infectious diseases Barrier crossing / Innate immune defenses Pathogen-endothelium interactions Neuropathology Second-opinion diagnosis [research.pasteur.fr]

The pathophysiology of this disease is not well understood. Some fungi that produce mycetoma also produce melanin, which is a virulence factor for many fungi. Toxins are not produced by the organisms causing mycetoma. [psychiatryadvisor.com]

Prevention & Control Mycetoma is not a notifiable disease (a disease required by law to be reported) and no surveillance systems exist. There are no prevention or control programmes for mycetoma yet. [who.int]

Mycetomas can be preventing by wearing proper clothing and strong shoes without open toes. Regular washing and bathing can also prevent risk of mycetomas. For treatment, antifungal and/or antibacterial drugs are required. [know-the-cause.com]

By prompt and reliable diagnosis with corresponding antimicrobial administration, we can prevent further progression and limb disability. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

1. Welsh O, Al-Abdely HM, Salinas-Carmona MC, et al. Mycetoma Medical Therapy. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014;8(10):e3218
2. Venkatswami S, Sankarasubramanian A, Subramanyam S. The madura foot: looking deep. Int J Low Extrem Wounds. 2012;11(1):31-42.
3. Bonifaz A, Tirado-Sánchez A, Calderón L, et al. Mycetoma: experience of 482 cases in a single center in Mexico. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014;8(8):e3102.
4. Suleiman SH, Wadaella ES, Fahal AH. The Surgical Treatment of Mycetoma. Wanke B, ed. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016;10(6):e0004690.
5. Hemalata M, Prasad S, Venkatesh K, et al. Cytological diagnosis of actinomycosis and eumycetoma: a report of two cases. Diagn Cytopathol. 2010;38(12):918-920.
6. van de Sande WW, Fahal AH, Goodfellow M, et al. Merits and pitfalls of currently used diagnostic tools in mycetoma. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014; 8(7):e2918.