Acute Abdomen Due to Penicillium marneffei: An Indicator of HIV Infection in Manipur State

Opportunistic infection in HIV disease often present to clinicians in an atypical manner testing clinical acumen. Here, we report a case of Penicilliosis marneffei (PM) infection presenting to surgical emergency as acute abdomen with undiagnosed HIV status in advanced AIDS, chief complaints being prolonged fever and diffuse abdominal pain. Radiologic imaging showed non-specific mesenteric and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the lymph node was done and subjected to direct microscopy, gram staining and culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA) which showed Penicillium marneffei. He was then treated with intravenous amphotericin. This case is reported for its rarity and unusual presentation to sensitise clinicians and microbiologists to consider PM as an aetiology in acute abdomen in high risk individuals, more so, in patients from north-east India.