Question 1

what is the connection between ocular histoplasmosis and pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

Immune changes: Because of the hormonal changes and subtle immune suppression during pregnancy and high levels of angiogenic growth factors, choriodal neovascularization which can be due to ocular histoplasmosis may occur.

Question 2

is histoplasmosis painful?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes: In general it is an infection, especially in the lungs, lymph nodes, speen and much of this can be  painless. If there is  bone or  joint invovlement then there can be  painful. Even lung invovlement can be  painful at time. Control of the infection can control the pain. It is found more often in some areas  of the country like the ohio and mississippi river valleys.

Question 3

can histoplasmosis be cured?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Mild forms of the disease usually resolve on their own without treatment (most cases), disseminated cases can be treated with itraconazole (a pill) or Abelcet (amphotericin b lipid complex) (an IV anti fungal), usually with good success.  Treatment may last as long as 6 weeks depending on the severity of the illness.  Rarely, surgical excision of infected lymph nodes is needed if there is obstruction of a vital organ or perf.

Question 4

what are the tests for histoplasmosis?

Accepted Answer

Lab Testing: The diagnosis of histoplasmosis can be complicated depending upon the area of the body that is affected.  Testing is not usually necessary for mild cases.   

In more serious or life-threatening cases, the diagnosis may be confirmed by:  culturing lung secretions, blood tests immunologic titers, biopsies of the affected tissue (lung), or bone marrow aspiration.

Question 5

what's your opinion on treating histoplasmosis?

Accepted Answer

Don't (usually): Histoplasmosis is almost always a self limited disease. While we have excellent drugs to treat it, they should be reserved for people who have symptomatic disease or those with severe immune compromise (chemotherapy, hiv, , transplants or other immunosuppressive treatments). Most histo is only discovered by accident, and in those cases, treatment provides no help and can have side effects.

Question 6

what is the treatment for histoplasmosis?

Accepted Answer

Antifungals!: Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection, usually aquired in the chest, with a TB like presentation. It can affect the body elsewhere though, in severe cases.Antifungal medications are used to treat severe cases of acute histoplasmosis and all cases of chronic and disseminated disease. Typical treatment of severe disease first involves treatment with amphotericin b, followed by oral itraconazole.

Question 7

how long does it take to get rid of histoplasmosis?

Accepted Answer

Histoplasmosis: For asymptomatic people or people with acute localized infection who are otherwise healthy, antifungal treatment is usually not recommended as these people have or will resolve the infection in about three weeks. If symptoms persist a month or more, itraconazole (sporanox), ketoconazole (nizoral) or Amphotericin B (fungizone, amphocin) may be effective.

Question 8

should we get rid of our pet birds since i have histoplasmosis?

Accepted Answer

Pet Bird Diseases: Birds are the fourth common pet, behind dogs, cats, and fish.  Common pet bird-associated diseases include psittacosis, influenza, histoplasmosis, avian pneumoencephalitis, and west nile fever.

Typical pet birds such as canaries and parrots are not usually susceptible to infection, but doves and pigeons may become colonized.

Question 9

my husband is a transplant recipient and recently contracted histoplasmosis. what should we do?

Accepted Answer

Talk to his doctor: Your husband's transplant specialist is very familiar with infections and will know if he needs this treated. Far better than a stranger on the internet. If my transplant patient had a symptomatic infection with a fungus, i'd treat it, but if it was just a positive blood test, then i might not.

Question 10

is histoplasmosis heritary?

Accepted Answer

No: Histoplasma is a dimorphic fungus that exists as a mold in the environment and a yeast in humans.  Everyone in the endemic areas for the fungus is equally susceptible to be exposed but there may be different susceptibility for the symptoms and risk for spread outside the lung.  Certainly genetic factors in certain ethnic groups can predispose to dissemination in coccioidomycosis, another fungus.

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Doctor answers about:

Histoplasmosis and pregnancy

A member asked:

What is the connection between ocular histoplasmosis and pregnancy?

A member asked:

Is histoplasmosis painful?

A member asked:

Can histoplasmosis be cured?

A member asked:

What are the tests for histoplasmosis?

A member asked:

What's your opinion on treating histoplasmosis?

A member asked:

What is the treatment for histoplasmosis?

A member asked:

How long does it take to get rid of histoplasmosis?

A member asked:

Should we get rid of our pet birds since i have histoplasmosis?

A member asked:

My husband is a transplant recipient and recently contracted histoplasmosis. what should we do?

A member asked:

Is histoplasmosis heritary?

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