Author(s): Saleh M. Al-Qahtani, Ali M. Alsuheel, Ayed A. Shati, Nihal I. Mirza, Abdulwahab A. Al-Qahtani, Ahmad A. Al-Hanshani, Ahmed A. Al-Jarie, Ibrahim A. Al-Zaydani
Basidiobolus ranarum is a fungus found in the dung of amphibians, reptiles and insectivorous bats. It usually causes chronic subcutaneous infection of the trunk and limbs . Gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis (GIB) is a rare disease. We report three children with this condition from the Southwestern of Saudi Arabia. All of them were treated with antifungals. One of them died and others recovered. All these patients had leukocytosis, marked eosinophilia and high erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the diagnosis of GIB was confirmed based on characteristic histopathlogical findings. GIB is an emerging disease in the Southwestern Saudi Arabia especially in children. Increasing awareness of GIB among healthcare professionals in areas of endemicity and appropriate specimen processing may lead to enhanced case detection and reporting.