Histoplasmosis is one of the most complex fungal diseases of man. This is a natural focal disease. Characterized by histoplasmosis is a deep lesion of the skin, mucous membrane, internal organs. Absolutely any organ can infect the disease. Symptoms of histoplasmosis do not always manifest clearly enough, so the ailment can for a long time remain without attention. Knowing the main signs of the disease, coping with it can be much faster and easier.
The main symptoms of histoplasmosis
In countries with a hot and excessively humid climate, histoplasmosis people suffer more often. The fungus that causes the disease, - Histoplasma capsulatum - lives in the soil. Infection occurs after the ingress of particles of dust into the body with spores of harmful fungus. It is impossible to get infected with histoplasms from a person or an animal.
At risk are representatives of such professions:
- farmers;
- miners;
- speleologists;
- builders.
In histoplasmosis, the main source of infection are birds and rodents. Spending a lot of time on the ground and eating contaminated food, animals turn into carriers and spreaders of the fungus - with their excrement the spores get into new territories.
Since the disease penetrates the body through the respiratory tract, histoplasmosis of the lungs is considered the most common. It is with the defeat of the lungs that infection begins with the fungus. Developing, the harmful microorganism penetrates through the blood into the tissues and internal organs. Physicians even had to deal with histoplasmosis of the eyes and ovaries. But fortunately, these forms of the disease are extremely rare.
The huge problem is that quite often at the initial stages of histoplasmosis does not manifest itself. It can be found only in the course of special studies, which, of course, for no reason at all, no one will.
In principle, however, to recognize the histoplasmosis of the skin and mucous membranes can be on such symptoms:
- heat;
- severe headaches;
- cough (often with phlegm, and in especially difficult cases even with blood veins);
- sharp weight loss;
- weakness;
- disability;
- arthralgia;
- wheezing in the lungs;
- diarrhea;
- vomiting;
- inflammation of the lymph nodes;
- myalgia;
- pain in the chest ;
- rashes on the skin;
- loss of appetite;
- excessive sweating;
- aches in the body;
- chills;
- colitis;
- drowsiness;
- drawing pains in the abdomen;
- the formation of ulcers on the genitals;
- yellowing of the skin;
- pain in the bones.
Acute forms of infection are sometimes characterized by pathological changes in internal organs.
In people with a weakened immune system, all of the above symptoms appear brighter and faster, while strong immunity may resist and suppress them for a while.
Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of histoplasmosis
To find the fungus in the body, you need to conduct a series of studies. First of all, the condition of the lungs is studied. X-ray examinations are performed, bronchoscopy is done. In parallel with this
Only after this treatment is selected. Antibacterial drugs are not always used. With histoplasmosis in the initial stages, it is possible to fight with immunomodulators, a healthy diet, exercise and regular outdoor walks.
To prevent infection with fungi, people constantly working on the ground need to wear respirators and regularly carry out soil disinfection. Occasionally, animals should be tested for histoplasmosis.