Where is Histoplasma found?
In the United States, Histoplasma mainly lives in the central and eastern states, especially areas around the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. The fungus also lives in parts of Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Where is histoplasmosis most common?
In the United States, Histoplasma mainly lives in soil in the central and eastern states, particularly areas around the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys,1 but it can likely live in other parts of the country as well. The fungus also lives in parts of Central and South America,3 Africa,4 Asia,5 and Australia.
Is histoplasmosis a notifiable disease?
Histoplasmosis has been described as the most common endemic mycosis in the United States. However, histoplasmosis is not nationally notifiable.
What is the incubation period for histoplasmosis?
Incubation period is typically 3–17 days for acute disease. Ninety percent of infections are asymptomatic or result in a mild influenzalike illness. Some infections may cause acute pulmonary histoplasmosis, manifested by high fever, headache, nonproductive cough, chills, weakness, pleuritic chest pain, and fatigue.
Can you get valley fever in Ohio?
Histoplasmosis (Ohio valley fever) is an infection caused by a fungus. The lung infection is usually mild, but it can be more severe in people with weak immune systems. Such people include those with HIV infection or cancer and those taking immunosuppressive drugs or steroids.
Is Histoplasma contagious?
The disease is acquired by inhaling the spore stage of the fungus. Outbreaks may occur in groups with common exposures to bird or bat droppings or recently disturbed, contaminated soil found in chicken coops, caves, etc. Person-to-person spread of histoplasmosis does not occur.
Is histoplasmosis common in Ohio?
In the United States, histoplasmosis commonly occurs in the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys, though it can occur in other areas, too. It also occurs in Africa, Asia, Australia, and in parts of Central and South America.
Does Histoplasma cause Ohio Valley Fever?
This material is often found in chicken coops, caves, abandoned buildings and around large trees and shrubs. Histoplasmosis is also called the Ohio River Valley Fever because many people in this area of the U.S. get this infection.
Is histoplasmosis contagious person to person?
How likely is it to get histoplasmosis?
One study calculated the incidence of histoplasmosis in adults aged 65 years and older in the U.S. to be 3.4 cases per 100,000 population. Rates were highest in the Midwest, with an estimated 6.1 cases per 100,000 population.
Can histoplasmosis be cured?
For some people, the symptoms of histoplasmosis will go away without treatment. However, prescription antifungal medication is needed to treat severe histoplasmosis in the lungs, chronic histoplasmosis, and infections that have spread from the lungs to other parts of the body (disseminated histoplasmosis).
What is the gold standard for treatment of histoplasmosis?
Amphotericin B remains the gold standard for treatment and is highly effective, even in immunocompromised individuals. Itraconazole shows promise as an alternative to amphotericin B for treatment of less severely ill patients.