DIAGNOSIS: HISTOPLASMOSIS
By Patricia Mulligan Jones
An unknown killer claimed the lives of thousands of people at the Panama Canal Zone in the early 1900's. The same POTENTIAL killer invades the lives of approximately 500,000 people in the United States of America each year. Out of that number, over 2,500 victims require hospitalization, and about fifty people die. Over thirty countries around the globe have seen the appearance of this invader. Who or what is this potential killer? It is a disease diagnosed as "Histoplasmosis."
What Is "Histoplasmosis"?
"Histoplasmosis" is a respiratory disease, sometimes referred to as "Cave Sickness," "Summer Flu," "Darlings' Disease," and other names. It can affect man, or the domestic and wild animals. Contrary to the beliefs of some people, the disease is not considered contagious. It is not transmitted from man to man, or from animals to man. The disease can result when man or animals inhale the airborne spores of the fungus or mold named "Histoplasma Capsulatum."
Histoplasma Capsulatum usually lives saprophytically in the soil, where the droppings from bats, blackbirds, starlings, chickens, pigeons, gulls, or other migratory birds, have accumulated for at least three years. The fungus may also be present in or on buildings, and in the accumulation of bat or pigeon droppings. It normally grows in the top two inches of soil, or accumulated droppings. If droppings have accumulated for at least three years, the Histoplasma Capsulatium can become established. And it can usually survive and grow, regardless of most environmental conditions.
When a person inhales the airborne parasitic spores of the Histoplasma Capsulatum fungus, the spores enter the lungs. An infection starts, and usually results in a primary lung lesion. Since there are no perceivable symptoms, several infections go unnoticed. Or the victim appears to have flu-like symptoms.
The mildest form of the disease appears as skin hypersensitivity with lesions. The more potentially damaging manifestation occurs in the areas of the lungs and eyes. It acts much like acid, as it eats and destroys tissue.
Presumed Ocular Histoplasmosis
Sometimes a victim experiences a loss of vision. A subretinal neovascular membrane forms, due to hemorrhaging beneath the retinal pigment epithelium. Blood seeps into the sensory retina and forms dark lesions, due to deeper blood, and a bright red lesion, due to the blood in the sensory retina.
Small, discrete atrophic areas of the choroid or "histo spots" frequently remain after healing takes place. These further impair vision, and could result in the victim having near-total blindness. A patient with this blinding form of the disease is diagnosed as having "Presumed Ocular Histoplasmosis." The National Eye Institute announced that the risk of blindness can be reduced by using the Argon blue-green laser photocoagulation treatment.
Can "Hist" Affect Other Parts Of the Body?
Yes, Histoplasmosis can affect other parts of the body. The disease can affect the following organs of the body:
- Pulmonary Lesions (Lungs area)
- Liver and Spleen
- Adrenal Glands
- Lymph Nodes
- Other Organs (Bone Marrow, Kidneys, Esophagus, Intestines, Thymus Gland, Heart, Central Nervous System, Eyes, and Middle Ear.)
- Cutaneous Lesions (Skin lesions, called "Blastomycosis")
- Mucosa and Semimucosa (Mucosal lesions, frequently in association with skin lesions in adults - nostrils, tongue, mouth, anus.)
- Tissues
-0-
Note: - If you provide an email address on any of these pages, I do not share or sell it outside of the Respond team. You may receive an email from someone other than myself, this will be a Respond member and they will be responding to your request. We only use your email address for replying to you. If you ask not to include your email address with your request, it will not appear anywhere on the website. David