Doctor's Notes on Histoplasmosis
Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. Histoplasmosis is most commonly seen in North and Central America. In North America, the fungus lives in the soil in the central and eastern states, particularly in the areas around the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys, but it can live in other areas of North America. People with compromised immune systems and those who come in contact with airborne particles containing the fungi (caves containing bats, bird feces, construction sites) are at greater risk of developing the illness.
The majority of people infected with histoplasmosis do not develop any symptoms. When symptoms of histoplasmosis occur they resemble pneumonia and may include fever, chest discomfort or pain, dry nonproductive cough, weakness, abdominal pain, and sweating. If histoplasmosis progresses, symptoms may include fatigue, shortness of breath, lung nodules, weight loss, vision changes, mouth ulcers, headaches, confusion, seizures, brain disease (encephalopathy), and even death.
What is the Treatment of Histoplasmosis?
Not everyone with a histoplasmosis infection will require treatment. Even in some people with symptoms, the condition will improve without treatment. However, in cases in which the infection has spread from the lungs to other parts of the body (known as disseminated histoplasmosis), chronic infections, and severe histoplasmosis of the lungs, treatment with prescription antifungal medications is typical.
The length of treatment is dependent upon the extent of disease and the individual's immune function. Treatment typically lasts for 3 months to 1 year.
Stomach Pain : Nausea & Other Causes Quiz

Bowel regularity means a bowel movement every day.
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Abdominal Pain (Adults)
Abdominal pain in adults can range from a mild stomach ache to severe pain. Examples of causes of abdominal pain in adults include appendicitis, gallbladder disease, gastric ulcers, pancreatitis, heart attack, kidney stones, diverticulitis, shingles, spider bites, and more. Information about when to seek medical care for abdominal pain is also provided. -
Chest Pain
Chest pain has a variety of noncardiac and cardiac causes, some of which can be very serious. Signs and symptoms of chest pain may include burning, squeezing, or heaviness in the chest. Atherosclerosis, angina, lung tumors, chest trauma, abdominal pain, and gastric reflux are just a few potential causes of chest pain. Chest pain is diagnosed by taking the patient history and performing a physical exam. Blood work, imaging tests, and an exercise stress test may be ordered. The treatment and prognosis of chest pain depends on the underlying cause. -
Coughs (Acute and Chronic)
A cough is a symptom of an underlying disease or condition. A chronic or persistent cough may signal certain lung conditions that should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. Common causes of coughs include infection, allergies, lung disease, medications, and GERD (reflux). Acute coughs are categorized as infectious or non-infectious. Chronic cough (persistent cough) have a variety of causes and should be evaluated by physician. Treatment of cough, acute cough, chronic or persistent cough depends on the cause of the cough. -
Fatigue
Fatigue is a common health complaint by individuals. Fatigue is also referred to as feeling weary, tired, exhausted, lethargic, and a lack of energy. There are several causes of fatigue from sleep disturbances to some diseases or conditions. Treatment of fatigue is generally directed toward the condition or disease causing fatigue. -
Febrile Seizures (Seizures and Fever)
Febrile seizures, also known as convulsions, body spasms, or shaking, occur mainly in children and are caused by fever. (Febrile is derived from the Latin febris, meaning fever.) -
Fever (in Adults)
A fever is a body temperature of 100.4 F or greater. A fever may be caused by a virus, bacteria, fungus, blood clot, tumor, drug, or the environment. Treatment of fever in adults usually involves ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin. -
Fever in Children
Fever is defined as a rectal temperature over 100.4 F or 38 C. Fever isn't life-threatening unless it is persistently high - greater than a 107 F rectal temperature. Fever is usually caused by an infection. Treatment focuses on controlling the temperature, preventing dehydration, and monitoring for serious illness. -
Headache (Mild)
Mild headaches and tension headaches are common but usually do not represent a serious illness. They result from irritation or injury to pain-sensing structures of the head. Symptoms of mild headache pain include aching, squeezing, or bandlike pain, on both sides of the head, generally above the level of the eyebrows. Treatment includes a variety of self-care measures and over-the-counter medications. -
Seizures (Epilepsy)
Epilepsy (seizure disorders) is a neurological condition that causes a series of jerking movements and loss of consciousness. Seizures are caused by disordered electrical activity in the brain rooted in a seizure disorder like epilepsy or a number of other primary causes. Seizures can be managed with medication. -
Seizures in Children
A seizure occurs when the brain functions abnormally, and can affect different parts of the brain and body. The types of seizures which most often occur in children are febrile, neonatal, and epileptic. Seizures may be partial or general. Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the seizures. -
Stomach Pain (Abdominal Pain) in Children
Abdominal pain in children can range from trivial to life-threatening. Symptoms of abdominal pain range from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, groin pain, urinary problems, or skin rash. The location of the abdominal pain may be around the belly button, occurs only at night, while eating. The pain pain also may be intermittent. Treatment of abdominal pain in children is depends on the cause. Possible causes of abdominal pain in children include infections, food related (food allergy or food poisoning), poisoning from medication, food, household products, appendicitis, diabetes, or spider bites.
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.