[Imported mycoses in Japan: their present status and problems].

Imported mycoses in Japan, particularly coccidioidomycosis and histoplasmosis, have been on the increase in the past 15 years, and more than 40 patients have been reported to suffer from each of these diseases. In spite of their high infectivity and virulence, imported mycoses have received little attention by physicians. Concerning coccidioidomycosis, in particular, physicians should keep abreast of updated and detailed information, and should maintain close contact with clinical microbiologists. In this review, the general profile of coccidioidomycosis, including its diagnosis and treatment, was described, and the importance of these diseases as well as their recent trends were discussed.