Histoplasmosis natural history, complications and prognosis
|
Histoplasmosis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Histoplasmosis natural history, complications and prognosis On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Histoplasmosis natural history, complications and prognosis |
|
FDA on Histoplasmosis natural history, complications and prognosis |
|
CDC on Histoplasmosis natural history, complications and prognosis |
|
Histoplasmosis natural history, complications and prognosis in the news |
|
Blogs on Histoplasmosis natural history, complications and prognosis |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Histoplasmosis natural history, complications and prognosis |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aravind Kuchkuntla, M.B.B.S[2]
Overview
Histoplasmosis is an endemic fungal infection and infection occurs by inhalation of the microconidia present in the soil. The average incubation period is around 2 to 3 weeks. Majority of the patients are asymptomatic and few develop acute pulmonary histoplasmosis presenting with fever, cough and dyspnea. In immunocompetent patients the infection is self limiting and symptoms resolve in 2 to 3 weeks. However patients in immunocompromised state can have complications due to the spread of infection to other organs and develop disseminated histoplasmosis. Prognosis of disseminated histoplasmosis is poor and is associated with increased mortality.
Natural history, complications and prognosis
Natural history
The incubation period of histoplasmosis is typically 3–17 days for the acute disease. If left untreated immunocompromised patients can have complications such as pericarditis, broncholithiasis, pulmonary nodules, mediastinal granuloma, or mediastinal fibrosis. In persons who develop progressive, chronic, or disseminated disease, symptoms may persist for months or longer. Most people spontaneously recover 2–3 weeks after onset of symptoms, although fatigue may persist longer.[1][2]
Complications
Some of the complications observed among patients with acute or chronic histoplasmosis include:[3][4]
- Fibrosing mediastinitis
- Mediastinal granuloma
- Calcified lymph nodes
- Adrenal hyperplasia
- Macular degeneration (ocular histoplasmosis)
- Pericarditis
- Broncholithiasis
- Pulmonary nodules
- Disseminated histoplasmosis
Prognosis
Immunocompetent patients have excellent prognosis with symptoms resolving in 2 to 3 weeks. However, immunocompromised patients can have extensive spread of the infection and have poor prognosis. Mortality is high in HIV-infected persons who develop disseminated histoplasmosis and approximately 30% of HIV/AIDS patients diagnosed with histoplasmosis die from it.[3][5]
References
- ↑ Sizemore TC (2013). "Rheumatologic manifestations of histoplasmosis: a review". Rheumatol Int. 33 (12): 2963–5. doi:10.1007/s00296-013-2816-y. PMID 23835880.
- ↑ McKinsey DS, McKinsey JP (2011). "Pulmonary histoplasmosis". Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 32 (6): 735–44. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1295721. PMID 22167401 22167401 Check
|pmid=value (help). - ↑ 3.0 3.1 Information for Healthcare Professionals about Histoplasmosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2015. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/histoplasmosis/health-professionals.html. Accessed February 2, 2016.
- ↑ Fernández Andreu CC, Illnait Zaragozi MT, Martínez Machín G, Perurena Lancha MR, Monroy Vaca E (2011). "[Histoplasmosis updating]". Rev Cubana Med Trop. 63 (3): 189–205. PMID 23444607.
- ↑ Alves MD, Pinheiro L, Manica D, Fogliatto LM, Fraga C, Goldani LZ (2011). "Histoplasma capsulatum sinusitis: case report and review". Mycopathologia. 171 (1): 57–9. doi:10.1007/s11046-010-9345-y. PMID 20635150 20635150 Check
|pmid=value (help).