Histoplasmosis disease: drugs, symptoms, causes, etc.

Definition of histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by inhaling spores from fungi that are often found in bird and bat droppings. The disease is often spread when mold spores contaminate the air, often during cleaning or dismantling projects.

Soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings can also spread histoplasmosis, leaving farmers, builders and field workers at high risk of contracting the disease.

Most people who suffer from this condition never experience symptoms and are unaware that they are infected.

However, for some people, especially infants and people with compromised immune systems, histoplasmosis can be a serious condition. Effective treatment is available for even the most severe forms of histoplasmosis.

How common is histoplasmosis?

This disease is very common and can affect patients at any age.

Histoplasmosis is most commonly found in patients with compromised or weakened immune systems, for example in patients with HIV / AIDS.

This risk is even higher if HIV / AIDS patients do not receive good antiretroviral treatment (ART), or live in areas with inadequate health facilities.

One example is in Latin America. Histoplasmosis is the most common infectious disease found in people with HIV / AIDS there. According to the CDC website, an estimated 30% of HIV patients with histoplasmosis die from this disease.

This can be overcome by reducing your risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Histoplasmosis signs and symptoms

There are several types of histoplasmosis. The mildest form usually doesn't cause any signs or symptoms, but a severe infection can be life threatening.

Signs and symptoms usually appear 3-17 days after the patient is first exposed to the fungal spores. The following are the symptoms of a fungal parasitic infection that may appear:

• Fever
• Shivering
• Headache
• Muscle ache
• Dry cough
• Chest discomfort

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about certain symptoms, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

In some people, this condition can also cause joint pain and a rash. People who have underlying lung disease, such as emphysema, can develop chronic forms of this condition.

Symptoms of chronic histoplasmosis can include weight loss and coughing up blood. In fact, sometimes the symptoms can also resemble those of tuberculosis.

This type of disease is the most severe usually occurs in infants and in people with immune system disorders. This condition is known as endemic histoplasmosis.

This type can affect almost any part of the body, including the mouth, liver, central nervous system, skin, and adrenal glands. If left untreated, this plague histoplasmosis is usually fatal.

Call your doctor if you develop flu-like symptoms after exposure to bird or bat droppings. Especially if you have a weak immune system.

Each patient's body may experience a variety of signs and symptoms. Therefore, always consult whatever health problems you are experiencing in order to get the appropriate treatment.

Causes of histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is caused by the reproductive cells of the fungus HIstoplasma capsulatum. These spores are very light and can float into the air when dirt or other contaminated material is disturbed.

Even if you have had the disease before, you can still get it again, with a much lower chance of having the first infection.

This disease-causing fungus thrives in soil rich in organic matter, especially in bird and bat droppings.

For this reason, it is most commonly found in chicken and pigeon coops, old barns, caves and parks. This disease is not a contagious disease, so it cannot be spread from person to person.

Risk factors for histoplasmosis

Anyone can get histoplasmosis. However, the likelihood of developing this disease increases with the number of spores inhaled.

In addition, there are also several factors that can increase a person's risk for this yeast infection. The following is a list of the existing risk factors:

1. Age

The groups most at risk for severe infection are very young children and the elderly.

Both have weaker immune systems, making them more likely to develop epidemic histoplasmosis, the most serious form of the disease.

2. Have a certain job

The professions with a higher likelihood of being exposed to spores are:

• Farmer
• Workers pest control
• Guard poultry
• Construction workers
• Roof builder
• Builders and gardeners
• Cave explorer

3. Having a disease or taking certain medications

Other factors that can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to this disease are:

• HIV or AIDS
• Intensive cancer chemotherapy
• Cortocosteroid medicines, such as prednisone
• TNF inhibitors, often used to control rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatism)
• Medicines that prevent organ transplant (graft) rejection

Histoplasmosis complications

Histoplasmosis can cause a number of serious complications, even in healthy people.

For babies, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems, the potential problem is often life threatening. Complications can include:

• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
  Histoplasmosis can damage the lungs to the point that the air sacs begin to fill with fluid. This prevents efficient air exchange and can greatly reduce oxygen levels in the blood.
• Heart problems
  Another complication due to this disorder is inflammation of the pericardium, the sac that surrounds the heart, called pericarditis. When the fluid in these sacs increases, it can interfere with the heart's ability to pump blood efficiently.
• Adrenal deficiency
  Histoplasmosis can damage the adrenal glands, which produce hormones that give instructions to nearly every organ and tissue of the body.
• Meningitis
  In some cases, histoplasmosis can cause meningitis, an infection and inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

Diagnosis and treatment of histoplasmosis

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor for more information.

Diagnosing this disease may be somewhat complicated, depending on the area of ​​the body that is infected.

Medical tests are usually not needed for mild cases of histoplasmosis. However, this can be very useful to help choose the appropriate treatment for a severe case.

The tests available to diagnose this disease have limitations. For example, it can take up to six weeks to get results from some tests.

The doctor may order medical tests to look for evidence of the disease from a sample:

• Lung fluid
• Blood or urine (urine)
• Lung tissue from biopsy
• Bone marrow

Researchers are still working to develop better technology to diagnose this condition.

How to treat histoplasmosis?

Treatment is usually not necessary if your condition is mild.

However, if your symptoms are severe or if you have a chronic or endemic form of the disease, you will likely need treatment with one or more antifungal medications.

One type of antifungal drug that is often prescribed for histoplasmosis is itraconazole. This medicine can be available in pill form, but the strongest form can be given intravenously.

Can histoplasmosis come again at a later time?

If you have had histoplasmosis and recovered after undergoing treatment, it is possible for the disease to come back at a later time.

However, usually the body has a better immune system after recovering from this disease, so you won't feel severe symptoms if you have another one at a time.

In people with weakened immune systems, histoplasmosis can "hide" in the body for several months or years, then cause symptoms afterward. This condition is also known as a relapse of infection.

Prevention of histoplasmosis

After knowing the dangers of this disease, you also need to understand ways to prevent exposure to mold spores.

The following steps can help you prevent getting histoplasmosis:

• Avoid exposure
  If your immune system is compromised, avoid renovation and building construction projects that expose you to contaminated soil. Likewise with cave exploration and breeding birds, such as doves or chickens, this is not recommended.
• Spray contaminated soil
  Before working or digging in soil that may contain this disease-causing fungus, spray thoroughly with water. This will prevent mold from being released into the air. Spraying chicken coops and other coops before cleaning can also reduce your risk.
• Put on a mask
  One of the best ways to protect yourself from soil-borne organisms is to use a breathing mask.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor to understand the best solution for you.