Histoplasmosis Symptoms
Histoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by inhaling the spores of a fungus called Histoplasma
capsulatum. Its symptoms vary greatly, but the disease primarily affect the lungs. Occasionally, other organs are affected. This form of the disease is called disseminated histoplasmosis, and it can be fatal if untreated. Histoplasmosis is not contagious; it cannot be transmitted from an infected person or animal to someone else. The vast majority of infected people are asymptomatic,
have no apparent ill effects, or they experience symptoms so mild they do not seek medical attention and may not even realize that their illness was
histoplasmosis. If symptoms do occur, they will usually start within 3 to 17 days after exposure, with an average of 10
days. Histoplasmosis can appear as a mild, flu-like respiratory illness and has a combination of symptoms, including malaise,
a general ill feeling, fever, chest pain, dry or nonproductive cough, headache, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, joint and muscle pains, chills, and
hoarseness. A chest X-ray can reveal distinct markings on an infected person's lungs. Symptoms
of Histoplasmosis by Type Acute symptomatic pulmonary
histoplasmosis. Tends to occur in otherwise healthy people who have had intense exposure to H. capsulatum. Because the severity of the disease depends on the number of fungus spores inhaled, reactions may range from a brief period of not feeling well to serious illness.
Symptoms may include fever, headache, dry cough, chills, chest pain, weight loss and sweats. In some cases, arthritis or pericarditis,
an inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart, may develop weeks or months after the initial infection. Arthritis is much more likely to occur in women than in men and is often accompanied by erythema nodosum, a skin rash in the form of nodules that's usually found on the shins.
On the other end of the spectrum, people who have inhaled a large number of spores may develop severe acute pulmonary syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition in which breathing becomes difficult and not enough oxygen reaches the lungs. Asymptomatic primary
histoplasmosis. The most common form of histoplasmosis and usually produces no
symptoms in otherwise healthy people who become infected. The only residual sign of infection may be a small scar in the lung. Although these scars are harmless, they sometimes show up as a suspicious nodule on a routine chest x-ray. Disseminated
histoplasmosis. Primarily in people with compromised immune systems, can affect nearly any part of your body, including your eyes, liver, bone marrow, skin, adrenal glands and intestinal tract. Depending on which organs are affected, people with this form of the disease may develop anemia, pneumonia,
pericarditis, meninigitis, adrenal insufficiency or ulcers of the mouth, tongue or intestinal tract. Untreated
it is usually fatal.
Chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis. Usually affects people with an underlying lung disease such as emphysema. It's most common in white, middle-aged men. Symptoms including fatigue, fever, night sweats and a cough that may sometimes bring up blood,
are similar to those of tuberculosis. The disease is long-term, and if left untreated may progress to disabling lung problems.
Histoplasmosis Symptoms to H
Home
|
