Erythema nodosum in primary histoplasmosis.

Erythema nodosum was the primary complaint in two children (a girl aged 2 and a boy aged 2 3/4 years) and was found secondarily in connection with other problems in two other children (a girl aged 6 1/2 and a boy aged 7 1/2 years). In all four cases the skin tests for tuberculosis gave negative results but reactions to histoplasmin were strongly positive. In no case was there evidence of rheumatism. It seemed evident that the erythema nodosum was a manifestation of histoplasmosis. In regions known to harbor Histoplasma capsulatum this organism must be considered among the possible causes whenever the physician deals with a fever of undetermined origin.