Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection that people contract from inhaling spores from a fungus known as Histoplasma. Like most fungal infections, histoplasmosis isn’t contagious and can only be contracted from the source. Histoplasma spores are typically found in bat and bird droppings, but they can also be found in soil that infected droppings have contaminated. For that reason, people living in rural areas are at higher risk.
In most cases, histoplasmosis isn’t a serious disease, and many people never show symptoms or even know they’re carriers of the infection. However, in infants or people with compromised immune systems, histoplasmosis can be serious. In rare instances, it can even be fatal or lead to serious lung conditions.
For most adults, histoplasmosis never causes any noticeable signs or symptoms. Severe infections or infections in people with compromised or under-developed immune systems, however, can cause the following symptoms.
Histoplasma fungus has a shorter incubating period than many other fungal infections. People typically start showing symptoms within three days to a week, and the severity of symptoms varies from person to person.
Histoplasmosis is a non-contagious fungal infection that can only be contracted directly from the source. People get the disease by inhaling the fungal spores of infected birds and bat droppings. Spores can also live in the soil if infected bird or bat droppings get mixed with the soil. Because faeces and dirt are the only sources of histoplasmosis, here are some people who are most at risk.
To date, there have been very few, if any, reported cases of histoplasmosis that originated in South Africa. However, histoplasmosis is very common in many areas and countries surrounding South Africa, which means it’s most common with people who travel.
Because histoplasmosis doesn’t always cause symptoms and isn’t overly common in South Africa, it can be tricky to diagnose. In most cases, your doctor will start by asking you about your health and travel history. If you were recently in an area where histoplasmosis may have been contracted, and you’re displaying troubling symptoms, they will test your body for the presence of the fungus.
This could mean the following tests.
Urine or blood tests to check for fungal spores.
Lung biopsy to check for fungal spores.
Bone marrow biopsy to check your bones for the presence of spores.
If any hint of the Histoplasma fungus is present, you likely have histoplasmosis.
If your doctor determines that you have histoplasmosis and you’re displaying serious symptoms, immediate treatment is essential. However, for mild cases of histoplasmosis where you aren’t displaying serious symptoms, or any symptoms at all, treatment may not be necessary.
If you do require treatment, antifungal medications are the best option and have shown great success. Antifungal medications are typically taken by mouth and kill the fungus from the inside out. In serious cases, you may also need IV fluids and to take medications for up to a year. Typically, this extended treatment is necessary if your doctor thinks you’re at risk of developing heart problems, meningitis, or respiratory distress syndrome.