Histoplasmosis - Medtick
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Histoplasmosis

What is it?

Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by the fungus grows in soil and material contaminated with bat or bird droppings (including chickens).

  • Spores become airborne when contaminated soil is disturbed, Its symptoms vary greatly, but the disease primarily affects the lungs.
  • The disease is not transmitted from an infected person to someone else.

It is most common in world areas of:

  • Western United States
  • Mexico
  • South America
  • Israel
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Africa

Diagnosis Tests

Blastomycosis antigen tests have extensive cross-reactivity with Histoplasmosis tests.

  • EIA Histoplasma urine antigen test (however, in the first two weeks of infection, false-negative tests may occur with antigen testing).

If result in negative then consider:

  • Sputum or BAL culture and microscopy
  • Performing a skin biopsy (if lesion[s] exists) for microscopy
  • Ordering serologic antibody tests; however, antibody tests are reported to have low sensitivity, though may be useful when an antigen test is negative or when trying to differentiate blastomycosis from histoplasmosis
  • Evaluating disease manifestations in bone, genitourinary tract, and central nervous system
  • Obtaining infectious disease or pulmonology consultation

Medscape

Cause

  • Fungus: Histoplasma capsulatum
  • Breathing the spores causes infection

Symptoms

  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72hours?
  • Initially a persistent dry cough which has now become a chesty cough with yellow/green and/or blood stained phlegm?
  • Dry cough longer than three weeks or breathing difficulties?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

This condition can lead to:

  • Addison disease
  • Mycotic Endophthalmitis
    • Blurred vision/decreased vision
    • Oedema (watery swelling) of the eyelid
    • Eye pain
    • Appearance of the eye may be hazy
      • Infection to the eye (sticky or watery discharge)
  • Erythema Multiforme

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Histoplasmosis in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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