Histoplasmosis is a lung infection caused by breathing in spores of a fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum , usually from soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings, and it can sometimes spread throughout the body, especially in people with weak immune systems.

What histoplasmosis is

Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by the environmental fungus Histoplasma that lives in soil enriched with bird or bat droppings. It is most common in certain regions such as the Ohio–Mississippi River valleys in the United States but also occurs in parts of Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

How people get it

People usually get histoplasmosis by inhaling tiny fungal spores that become airborne when contaminated soil or droppings are disturbed, such as during construction, cave exploration, cleaning old chicken coops, or demolishing old buildings. The disease does not spread from person to person, only from the environment to the lungs.

Common symptoms

Many infections are mild or cause no symptoms at all, especially in healthy adults. When symptoms do occur, they often resemble a flu-like or pneumonia- like illness, with fever, cough, chest pain, fatigue, and sometimes shortness of breath.

Who is at higher risk

Severe or “disseminated” histoplasmosis is more likely in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with advanced HIV/AIDS, people on chemotherapy, high-dose steroids, or transplant medications. Infants, older adults, and people with chronic lung disease can also be more vulnerable to serious forms.

Treatment basics

Mild cases often get better on their own without specific antifungal medicines. More serious lung disease or disseminated histoplasmosis usually requires prescription antifungal drugs such as itraconazole or amphotericin B, sometimes for many months, and can be life-threatening if not treated.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.