 |
| Histoplasmosis Effects |
Someone who works in the vicinity of land that contains a fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum can be exposed to histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis spores transmitted through the air and when people would breathe into the lungs.
People who are highly at risk for histoplasmosis are workers who come into contact with bird or bat droppings, such as farmers.
Most people exposed to histoplasmosis are not aware that they are infected, because they never showed signs and symptoms. However, histoplasmosis can be serious for some people, especially infants and people with compromised immune systems are lacking.
Available treatment for histoplasmosis in the most severe conditions. However, therapy in histoplasmosis can cause serious side effects and usually involves treatment in a hospital long enough.
For this reason, people with weak immune systems should avoid exposure to histoplasmosis.
Cause
The cause of histoplasmosis is exposure of a person by a fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum. These fungi are particularly common in chicken and pigeon coop, old barns, parks and caves which is a rich moist soil organic matter, especially of bird and bat droppings.
Bird's body temperature is too high, causing the birds can not be infected with histoplasmosis, but birds can carry H. capsulatum in their fur. Additionally, bird droppings can support mold growth.
Bats have a lower body temperature and can be infected, but one can not contract the disease from bats or from other people.
When a person inhaling the reproductive cells (spores) of the fungus, it can be exposed to histoplasmosis. Spores are very light, so that dirt or other contaminated materials can float in the air and inhaled by humans.
This disease usually occurs in people who live near a rich moist soil organic matter, as well as farmers and construction workers.
Symptom
Symptoms of histoplasmosis can range from mild to life threatening. Although the mildest form causes no signs or symptoms, serious problems throughout the body and in the lungs can be caused by severe infection of the disease.
Severe infection of the disease usually occurs when the signs and symptoms appear, symptoms appear approximately 3-17 days after initial exposure.
Symptoms of mild to moderate:
a. Asymptomatic primary histoplasmosis
The most common form of histoplasmosis are asymptomatic primary histoplasmosis, which does not cause signs or symptoms in healthy people who are infected. Scar or a small lump in the lung may be the only sign of infection. In this case, special radiologic tests can usually confirm that the lump was not cancerous.
b. Acute histoplasmosis with symptoms of lung
Typically, the form of the disease occurs in otherwise healthy people who have continuous exposure of H. capsulatum. This reaction can occur with short periods. Serious illness due to the severity of disease depends on the number of mold spores are inhaled.
Some of the signs and symptoms are common, among others:
1. Sweat
2. Shiver
3. Headache
4. Chest pain
5. Fever
6. Weight loss
7. Hacking cough
In some cases, weeks or months after initial infection, the patient may experience arthritis or pericarditis. Pericarditis is an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart.
This problem is not a sign that the infection has spread beyond the lungs. The infection develops because the immune system of patients respond to the fungus in an unusual amount with inflammation.
On the other hand, when people inhale large amounts of spores, can develop into acute pulmonary syndrome. Acute lung syndrome is a potentially life-threatening syndrome because the patient will have difficulty breathing.
Symptoms of moderate to severe
Chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis
People with lung diseases like emphysema usually can develop histoplasmosis. When the disease is left untreated, could develop into a severe disruption in the lungs.
Some of the signs and symptoms may include:
1. Sweating at night
2. Fatigue
3. Coughing up blood
4. Fever
b. Disseminated histoplasmosis
This disease can affect almost all parts of the body, including eyes, bone marrow, intestinal tract, liver, adrenal glands, and skin. This disease usually occurs in infants and people with weak immune systems. In most cases, untreated histoplasmosis can be fatal.
Based on the organs are affected, symptoms may occur, among others:
1. Meningitis
2. Anemia
3. Sores in the mouth, tongue or intestinal tract
4. Pericarditis
5. Adrenal insufficiency
6. Pneumonia
Treatment
The Cure usually not necessary for patients affected by mild acute histoplasmosis. However, a person will most likely need treatment with one or more anti-fungal drugs in more severe cases, or if you have a chronic form of the disease.
Type of disease, the severity and the patient's overall health will determine the particular drug and duration of treatment. Amphotericin B and itraconazole are two examples of commonly used antifungal drugs.
Typically, initial treatment of choice for patients with disseminated histoplasmosis histoplasmosis or other severe conditions is one of several formulations of amphotericin B.
However, depending on how the patient's condition will improve, the patient will be given itraconazole in a few days to a week because these drugs can be toxic to the kidneys and should be administered intravenously.
In the case of patients who have severe respiratory illness and difficulty maintaining oxygen levels in the bloodstream, the patient can also be given corticosteroids.
In mild cases hitoplasmosis, itraconazole can also be effective. Itraconazole can be given in pill form and will have fewer side effects, but these drugs do not work as quickly as amphotericin B.
Patients may experience headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea while using this drug, but over time these symptoms usually disappear. Patients should be monitored during treatment in cases of patients who have a history of liver or kidney disorders, lung, or other diseases.
Patients may be prescribed fluconazole, which is an antifungal medication, if the patient can not tolerate itraconazole. However, patients are more likely to experience recurrence with fluconazole, and itraconazole drug is not as effective.
Sources: Epharmapedia
No comments:
Post a Comment