Histoplasmosis Research Paper

A. Histoplasmosis is a type of fungus that lives in the environment, mainly in areas of birds or bats dropping in humid areas. It is not a series condition unless it spreads throughout the body. One can develop this by breathing in spores of fungus in areas with bird or bat droppings. It is usually transmitted through spores becoming airborne by demolition projects. This fungus grows mainly in central southeastern and mid- atlantic states. This fungus thrives in in damp soil and rich organic material. People can still get histoplasmosis again if they previously had it, but he illness would likely be more milder. The reproductive spores of this fungus are extremely light and can float into the air when dirt or any other contaminated material

A 54 year old male was admitted to the hospital with a persistent cough from a cold. The male had no signs of fever, sweating,or chest pain. A CT scan that was examine detected lumps in the upper right lung and a large mass in the right middle lobe. His body temperature 36.5 C, heart rate 76 beats/min, and blood pressure 140/80 mmHg. There was no abnormal findings identified in the lung when percussion. White blood cells count 9.4x10^9/1 (normal range 4-10x10^9/1); RBC 4.5x10^12/1( normal range, 3.5-5.5x10^12/1); and hemoglobin level, 134 g/l (normal range 110-150g/l). A bronchoscopy revealed chronic mucosal inflammation in the right lobe branches.The patient was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia, and the fungal infections were present due to the patient's immune system being depressed. To diagnosis histoplasmosis laboratories are done such as , cultures of bodily fluids or tissue, surface markers in urine, blood test to measure antibody response, microscopic examination of infected tissues and chest X-ray. Chest X-rays in people with acute histoplasmosis are usually normal sometimes the presence of lesions can be seen through x-rays. Histoplasmosis is usually treated antifungal drugs. There were studies for pulmonary histoplasmosis due to cases being reported. 76 cases were included for review for treatment and diagnosis. Not all the cases studied on pulmonary histoplasmosis have had contact with the fungal spore or exposure to risk factors. Other studies have