Abstract
Pythiosis, is a condition that results from being infected by Pythium insidiosum, a funguslike microorganism that is actually not classified as a fungus, but belongs to a similar group as diatom. Originally found to infect plants, reports of infections in animals were made in 1983 and eventually there were confirmed cases of the disease in humans for the first time in 1985. Pythium spp. are commonly present in soil and agricultural water sources, especially in warm, humid regions. They have motile spores that can move and attach to living tissues, leading to infections resulting necrotic lesions. If the infection occurs to the blood vessels, it can cause thrombosis or aneurysms, resulting in organ ischemia. Global reports of patients with pythiosis have been documented up to the year 2021, totaling 771 cases, with 94.3% of them coming from Thailand and India. Furthermore, almost all vascular pythiosis cases were Thai patients. However, due to limited diagnosis confirmation prior to the 2000s, leading to an underestimated prevalence of pythiosis in Thailand. Teaching about this disease among medical students less emphasized. As a result, medical personnel lack experience in managing patients with this disease, and public awareness of pythiosis remains low. At present, successful treatments need surgery and multiple antimicrobial medications. For vascular pythiosis, surgeries lead to organ loss with high mortality. Delayed medical consultation or diagnosis contributes to a higher risk of adverse outcomes, partly due to a lack of knowledge and diagnostic experience. Added value of this study Creating an online course on the diagnosis and treatment of vascular pythiosis marks the first step in medical and public health education in Thailand that recognizes the importance of this disease. This course aims to raise awareness about the problem, expanding knowledge among medical personnel, particularly doctors who must provide timely and appropriate treatment and medical technicians who need to identify the pathogen. Although the primary goal may not be fully achieved with just this initial study, the creation of this online course will stimulate recognition of the importance of this disease among medical personnel and at-risk populations. This increased awareness could help reduce delays in confirming diagnoses in the future.
