Blastomycosis is an infection caused by a fungus called Blastomyces. The fungus lives in the environment, particularly in moist soil and in decomposing matter such as wood and leaves.
What does blastomycosis do to your body?
Blastomycosis is an infectious disease characterized by fever, chills, headaches, chest pain, weight loss, night sweats, cough, and/or difficulty breathing (dyspnea). Some affected individuals do not experience these symptoms although they are actively infected (asymptomatic).
What are the symptoms of blastomycosis in humans?
- Fever.
- Cough.
- Night sweats.
- Muscle aches or joint pain.
- Weight loss.
- Chest pain.
- Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
Is blastomycosis contagious?
Is blastomycosis contagious? No. Blastomycosis can’t spread between people or between people and animals.
How long can you live with blastomycosis?
Those patients diagnosed and treated appropriately usually have a good outcome although they need to take medications for many months. Immunosuppressed patients with blastomycosis have outcomes that range from good to poor. Although some may recover completely, the mortality rate (death rate) is about 29%.
What happens if blastomycosis goes untreated?
People can get blastomycosis after breathing in the microscopic fungal spores from the air. Although most people who breathe in the spores don’t get sick, some people will develop symptoms like fever and cough, and the infection can sometimes become serious if it is not treated. You may also read,
How do they test for blastomycosis in humans?
A doctor will likely test for blastomycosis by taking a blood sample or a urine sample and sending it to a laboratory. Healthcare providers may do imaging tests such as chest x-rays or CT scans of your lungs. Check the answer of
Can blastomycosis be cured?
How is blastomycosis treated? Most people will need antifungal treatment for blastomycosis. Most people with blastomycosis will need treatment with prescription antifungal medication. Itraconazole is a type of antifungal medication that is typically used to treat mild to moderate blastomycosis.
How does blastomycosis start?
Blastomycosis is usually caused by inhaling airborne spores from contaminated soil into the lungs. Spores are more likely to be airborne after contaminated soil is disturbed by activities such as excavation, construction, digging, or wood clearing. Read:
How can you protect yourself from blastomycosis?
Simple precautions include wearing work gloves, proper footwear, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and a disposable NIOSH N100 approved HEPA filter dust mask. The symptoms of blastomycosis can be similar to those of influenza or pneumonia.
What does blastomycosis look like on xray?
Chest CT image reveals patchy, dense lung opacification in the right middle and lower lobes. This is the most common presentation of blastomycosis. Lung opacities may be patchy or confluent and subsegmental or nonsegmental. Chest radiograph demonstrates a spiculated mass overlying the left hilum.
What is the mortality rate of blastomycosis?
Published case fatality in blastomycosis patients ranges between 4% and 78%. This study aimed to assess mortality associated with blastomycosis and identify its associated risk factors.
Can blastomycosis be fatal?
Blastomycosis is a potentially fatal fungal infection endemic to parts of North America.
Can you see blastomycosis?
Blastomyces lives in the environment as a mold that produces fungal spores. The spores are too small to see without a microscope.
What is the incubation period for blastomycosis?
As with human cases, blastomycosis is diagnosed more often in the fall and early winter. This is likely due to exposure to the soil-borne fungus in the summer, and an incubation period of 1-3 months.
