JDM can progress to interstitial lung disease (ILD) if associated with MDA5 antibodies, and immunosuppressive therapy constitutes the primary treatment approach.<h4>Case presentation</h4>We present a unique case of JDM complicated by disseminated histoplasmosis in a 12-year-old African American male cross-country runner with no prior medical history. This evidence concerns the gene IFIH1 and juvenile dermatomyositis.