The Dr Told Me I Had Histoplasmosis as a Child Could I Get It Again

Histoplasmosis

Parasitic infection - histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by a fungus, called Histoplasma capsulatum (H. capsulatum). The fungus lives in the soil, and is breathed in through a person'due south lungs. Most people with histoplasmosis take no symptoms and may never know they are infected. A small number of people may develop flu-like symptoms that last about 10 days. But histoplasmosis tin be serious for people with weakened allowed systems or who have chronic diseases, or for infants. Rarely, information technology can pb to death.

Because the symptoms are akin, doctors sometimes mistake histoplasmosis for tuberculosis. About 500,000 people are exposed to H. capsulatum each yr in the United States.

Signs and Symptoms

Near people with histoplasmosis take no symptoms or very mild ones. Signs and symptoms that happen in rare cases include the post-obit:

Sudden, flu-like infection -- includes fever, chills, cough, breast hurting, and headache
Long-term lung infection -- develops slowly over weeks to months and produces a cough that gets worse, weight loss, night sweats, and sometimes shortness of breath
Trouble breathing -- this can happen to people who breathe in very large amounts of the fungus. It is sometimes called "spelunker'due south lung" because information technology can happen after exploring caves.

When the disease spreads throughout the body, information technology affects many organ systems. A person may take the following symptoms:

Anemia
Meningitis (inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord)
Ulcers in the mouth
Infection of heart valves
Pneumonia
Enlarged liver and spleen
Bloated lymph nodes

Causes

Histoplasmosis is caused past a common mucus that is found in mild climates throughout the world. Many people living in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys of the United States have been infected with the fungus, called H. capsulatum . It grows in moist soil that is rich in nitrogen, or in places contaminated with bird or bat droppings, such as attics, barns, caves, and urban center parks.

People exhale the spores of fungus into the lungs, where they grow. In people with salubrious immune systems, they ordinarily do not spread to other parts of the body. In those with weakened immune systems, however, the spores may spread to the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, bone marrow, adrenal glands, and digestive system.

Histoplasmosis may also occur in the wake of a solid organ transplant, such as a middle, lung, or kidney transplant.

Gamble Factors

Many people living in mild climates can become infected with histoplasmosis. Those nigh at run a risk of becoming infected include:

Farmers and poultry farmers
Construction workers
Spelunkers (cave explorers)
Geologists and archeologists
Landscapers and gardeners
People who have contact with bats

Those at take a chance of astringent infection include:

People with weakened immune systems (from HIV, corticosteroid therapy, organ transplantation, and chemotherapy)
Very young children
Senior adults
People with chronic diseases, such as lung disease

Diagnosis

Because most people with histoplasmosis have no symptoms, it can be hard to diagnose. In addition to a physical exam, your doctor may exercise the following tests:

Fungal civilization -- can take several weeks to confirm diagnosis, so this exam is not used if someone needs firsthand treatment
Fungal stain or blood test
Chest ten-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan

Preventive Care

It isn't easy to prevent exposure to the fungus that causes histoplasmosis because information technology is widespread. However, the following steps may help prevent infection:

Wear masks or respirators when in places contaminated by bird or bat droppings
Spray contaminated areas with water, which helps keep the spores from beingness released

Treatment

Mild cases of histoplasmosis may not need to be treated. Doctors treat more than serious cases, with symptoms that include loftier fever, trouble breathing, loss of appetite, and malaise, with antifungal medications.

Medications

Medications stop the fungus from growing in the body. Doctors often use these medications in severe cases when the infection has spread to other organs and tissues throughout the body.

Amphotericin B (Fungizone IV, Abelcet) -- given intravenously (IV). Your physician may offset with this drug, then switch to itraconazole.
Itraconazole (Sporanox) -- taken by mouth

Surgery and Other Procedures

Surgery is only needed in rare cases when serious complications arise.

Nutrition and Dietary Supplements

Although no supplements cure histoplasmosis, a few studies suggest that some supplements may assistance reduce symptoms. Ask your physician about the all-time means to add complementary therapies into your overall treatment plan. Always tell your health care provider nigh the herbs and supplements you are using or considering using.

Following these nutritional tips may assistance reduce symptoms:

Swallow bitter and spicy foods, such every bit those containing turmeric (curries), cayenne peppers, green chilies, olives, figs, garlic, and ginger.
Drinkable warm teas which contain spices, such as cardamom, clove, and cinnamon.
Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes) and vegetables (such equally squash and bell peppers).
Drinkable 6 to eight glasses of filtered water daily.

The following supplements may help reduce symptoms, although there isn't any scientific prove to know for certain:

Vitamin C, 500 to ane,000 mg, i to 3 times daily. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and may help strengthen the immune system.
Grapefruit seed excerpt ( Citrus paradisi ), 100 mg capsule or 5 to 10 drops (in favorite drink) three times daily when needed. Grapefruit seed may have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral backdrop. It may also aid strengthen the immune system. Grapefruit seed extract interacts with a number of common medications, so don't take it without request your dr. offset.
Probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus ), 5 to ten billion CFUs (colony forming units) a twenty-four hours, when needed for maintenance of gastrointestinal and allowed health. You should refrigerate your probiotic supplements for best results. People with autoimmune atmospheric condition, such equally lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, or people with weakened immune systems should ask their doctor before taking probiotics.
Coenzyme Q10, 100 to 200 mg at bedtime, for antioxidant and immune system back up. Coenzyme Q 10 may interact with blood thinners, such equally warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), or aspirin and make them less effective, so ask your doctor earlier taking it.

Herbs

Herbs can strengthen and tone the trunk's systems. Equally with any therapy, you lot should piece of work with your health intendance provider before starting any handling. You may apply herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, yous should make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to twenty minutes for roots. Potable 2 to 4 cups per solar day. You may employ tinctures lonely or in combination as noted.

These herbs have not been studied specifically for histoplasmosis, but they seem to stop the growth of some fungus.

Cat's claw ( Uncaria tomentosa) standardized excerpt, twenty mg, iii times per day, to reduce inflammation and stop the growth of fungus. True cat's claw may boost the immune system, so people with autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis) may want to avoid it. People with leukemia should not accept cat's hook. True cat'due south hook may interact with a number of medications, and so ask your doctor before taking it.
Garlic (Allium sativum) , standardized extract, 400 mg, 2 to iii times per day, to kill fungus and heave the immune organization. Garlic may increase the run a risk of bleeding. Inquire your medico before taking garlic if you also take blood thinners, such as aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), or warfarin (Coumadin). Garlic may collaborate with some medications, including some medications used to treat HIV/AIDS, too as some nascency control medications. Speak with your doctor.
Cranberry ( Vaccinium macrocarpon) , 300 to i,800 mg, two times per mean solar day, to fight fungus. Cranberry contains salicylic acid, the same ingredient in aspirin. People with aspirin sensitivity, and people who have the claret thinners warfarin (Coumadin) or clopidogrel (Plavix) should ask their doctor before taking cranberry.
Reishi mushroom ( Ganoderma lucidum), 150 to 300 mg, 2 to iii times per solar day, to reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system. Yous may as well take a tincture of this mushroom excerpt, 30 to lx drops, 2 to iii times a day. Reishi may interact with blood pressure medications and claret-thinning medications.
Olive leafage (Olea europaea) standardized excerpt, 250 to 500 mg, i to 3 times per day, for antifungal activeness and immunity. You may likewise set teas from the leaf of this herb. Olive foliage tin lower both blood pressure and blood saccharide. If yous take medications for high blood pressure or diabetes, ask your doctor before taking olive leaf.

Other Considerations

Warnings and Precautions

The medications used to treat histoplasmosis may interact with a number of other drugs. Be certain to tell your medico about all the medications you have. Amphotericin can be toxic to the kidneys, and then your doctor will scout you advisedly while you have it.

Prognosis and Complications

Most people don't take serious complications, simply rarely they may include:

Fibrous tissue in the lining of the breast wall cavity, which may squeeze the esophagus, center, or lungs, and so they cannot work properly
Meningitis
Scar tissue in the lungs
Blindness -- if infection spreads to the eyes

Most cases of histoplasmosis are mild, and symptoms go away in 10 days without handling. Sometimes symptoms may last for several weeks. In the most severe cases, especially when the infection spreads throughout the torso, a person may need to have antifungal medications for a long time. If left untreated, severe cases tin cause decease. People in areas where the mucus is common may become a second infection, even after handling. Only the second i is usually milder than the first.

Supporting Inquiry

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Cvetnic Z, Vladimir-Knezevic S. Antimicrobial activity of grapefruit seed and lurid ethanolic excerpt. Acta Pharm . 2004;54(3):243-250.

Deodhar D, Frenzen F, Rupali P, et al. Disseminated histoplasmosis: a comparative study of the clinical features and outcome amidst immmunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. Natl Med J Bharat. 2013; 26(4):214-215.

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Fauci Equally, Braunwald Eastward, Hauser SL, et al, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine . 17th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2008.

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Advanced Written report

Reviewed By: Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice specializing in complementary and culling medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Too reviewed by the A.D.A.K. Editorial team.

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