Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is highly contagious fungal disease; respiratory route; lung first then skin/mononuclear-phagocyte system (liver/spleen); also kidney/CNS/other organs.

Common Symptoms

Splenomegaly; lymphadenopathy; calcification; pulmonary infection; Yue Han; night sweats; low fever; cyanosis

Causes and Pathogenesis

(1) Etiology: dimorphic, intracellular yeast at 37°C, mycelial at 28°C; highly infectious (lab-acquired). Caused by H. capsulatum; respiratory/skin/mucosal/GI transmission; endemic patients' and animal feces carry it; chicken coops harbor it. Disease severity depends on host resistance. (2) Pathogenesis: inhaled spores → primary pulmonary infection; healthy self-resolves; immunocompromised (malignancy/steroids/immunosuppressants/high inoculum) → pulmonary focus → lymphohematogenous dissemination.

Treatment

Drug, surgical, supportive therapy

Preventive Measures

Laboratory precautions; bird/bat/chicken coops; new arrivals to endemic areas.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Infectious Diseases department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.