Women and HIV/AIDS - Living with HIV/AIDS - Opportunistic Infections

Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by a fungus. The disease mainly hurts your lungs. Sometimes, it hurts other organs too, and it can be fatal if untreated. The fungus grows in soil and material contaminated with bat or bird droppings (poop). The fungus gets into the air when soil (that has the fungus) is disturbed. Breathing it in causes infection. Many people don't have symptoms. If they do, symptoms include fever, chest pains, fatigue, weight loss, breathing problems, swollen lymph nodes, pneumonia-like symptoms, and a dry (nonproductive) cough.

Anyone working at a job or close to places where the fungus is in the air can get this disease if you breathe in enough of it. People with HIV should avoid any activities that raise their risk, like cleaning chicken coops, disturbing soil beneath bird-roosting sites, and exploring caves. Below are some jobs and hobbies that increase your risk:

Bridge inspector or painter

Chimney cleaner

Construction worker

Demolition worker

Farmer

Gardener

Heating and air-conditioning system installer or service person

Microbiology laboratory worker

Pest control worker

Restorer of historic or abandoned buildings

Roofer

Spelunker (cave explorer)

These and other sites with this fungus are most likely not tested for histoplasmosis or cleaned. Talk to your doctor about how to protect yourself if you have to be near it.

Additional Information on Histoplasmosis:

Publications

Histoplasmosis - This publication explains the causes, symptoms and treatments for histoplasmosis.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/histoplasmosis_g.htm

Histoplasmosis Resource Guide - This brochure discusses the symptoms, treatments, and surgery options for histoplasmosis.

http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/histoplasmosis/index.asp

Histoplasmosis (Copyright © Project Inform) - This publication explains what histoplasmosis is, what the symptoms are, how it affects people with HIV/AIDS, and how it is diagnosed, treated, and prevented.

http://www.projectinform.org/info/histo/index.shtml

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Content last updated January 25, 2008.