Histoplasmosis: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by inhaling fungal spores that are commonly found in the soil and droppings of birds and bats. Transmission of histoplasmosis occurs when these spores become airborne during a demolition project or a cleanup. In most cases, people suffering from this condition do not show any serious sign of ill health. However, those with a weaker immune system are likely to develop serious complications. There are two stages of histoplasmosis- acute and chronic. Acute histoplasmosis is a short-term condition which usually stays confined to lungs and rarely leads to complications, while chronic histoplasmosis is a long-term condition which can spread to other body parts, leading to life-threatening complications if not treated at the right time. Usual symptoms of histoplasmosis are similar to those of pneumonia which include high fever, headache, muscle aches, pain in the chest, coughing out blood, breathlessness and excessive sweating.

If you encounter symptoms of histoplasmosis, you should consult a doctor otherwise chronic histoplasmosis may lead to serious health problems. The doctor may perform a number of medical examinations like blood test and urine test in order to confirm the diagnosis. These tests look out for antibodies and proteins which indicate contact with histoplasmosis. The doctor may also take samples of your urine and sputum or blood cultures for an accurate diagnosis. But the test reports may take up to 6 weeks to come out. Other tests like biopsy of your lung tissue or bone marrow, a CT scan or X-ray of your chest can determine if any additional treatment is required to address serious complications.

People showing symptoms of histoplasmosis should consult a doctor otherwise chronic histoplasmosis may lead to serious health problems. The doctor may perform a number of medical examinations like blood test and urine test in order to confirm the diagnosis. These tests look out for antibodies and proteins which indicate contact with histoplasmosis. The doctor may also take samples of your urine and sputum or blood cultures for an accurate diagnosis. But the test reports may take up to 6 weeks to come out. Other tests like biopsy of your lung tissue or bone marrow, a CT scan or X-ray of your chest can determine if any additional treatment is required to address serious complications.

Symptoms of histoplasmosis are similar to those of pneumonia. So people encountering high fever, headache, muscle aches, pain in the chest, coughing out blood, breathlessness and excessive sweating should have themselves diagnosed for the treatment. Other than these usual symptoms, infants and adults with a weak immune system are prone to this condition. Farmers, construction workers, or people working in high-risk areas such as in poultry, construction sites are exposed to risk of inhaling airborne fungal spores. Hence they should consult a doctor to check if they are eligible for the treatment.

If you do not show symptoms of histoplasmosis, then you need not undergo any treatment.

Side effects of histoplasmosis include the following: Acute respiratory distress syndrome- it can damage the lungs to an extent where the air sacs get filled with fluid. This results in prevention of air exchange and depletion of oxygen levels in the blood; Heart problems- it can lead to inflammation of the pericardium, the sac which surrounds the heart. When the fluid level in the pericardium increases, it can lead to interference with the heart’s ability to efficiently pump the blood; Adrenal insufficiency- histoplasmosis can damage your adrenal gland that produce hormones which give instructions to every tissue and organ in your body; Meningitis- it can lead to inflammation of the membranes that surround your spinal cord and brain, more commonly known as meningitis.

Post treatment guidelines of the treatment for the condition of histoplasmosis include avoiding activities or projects which keep you exposed to the fungal spores, cleaning the contaminated soil and surface with water before to prevent the spores from being exposed in the air. The patient is recommended to follow the prescribed drugs and medicines to prevent the infection from recurring.

Although symptoms of acute histoplasmosis usually takes about 10 days to go away without any prior treatment, people suffering from chronic histoplasmosis may take up to 4-6 weeks to recover after the treatment.

Histoplasmosis treatment results are usually permanent since in most cases the infection resolves on its own, or can at least be cured with the help of antifungal drugs and medicines. However, the infection may recur if you have a weaker immune system. In rare cases, people suffering from disseminated histoplasmosis may experience life-threatening complications if not treated properly.

Alternative treatment for the condition of histoplasmosis includes a few home remedies such as- intake of natural herbs and spices like cloves, turmeric which are packed with anti-fungal properties that help in eliminating infection from your respiratory tracts and lungs. Intake of neem leaves can help boost your immunity and prevent the fungal spores from causing harm to the respiratory system.