Blastomycosis Symptoms

Blastomycosis is a rare and not widely distributed infections disease. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the most common instances of blastomycosis are found in the mid-western and southwestern United States. The condition is diagnosed using a chest X-ray and a biopsy that could be taken from the lungs or from the rash that may appear on the skin.

Identification

• Blastomycosis is a fungal infection that occurs when someone is exposed to the Blastomyces dermatitidis fungus. The fungus is normally inhaled, and it is sometimes found in such common items as rotted wood and soil. The condition primarily affects the skin and the lungs. It is a rare condition that can create a variety of symptoms. It is more likely to strike people with a weakened immune system such as people suffering from HIV, people who have just had major surgery or people suffering from cancer.

Effects

• Initially there may be no symptoms at all. It is possible that even though this is an airborne fungus that is inhaled into the lungs that no lung symptoms appear. However, if symptoms do appear they normally appear on the skin first. These symptoms include rashes and lesions on the surface of the skin commonly in the abdominal or pelvic area. Bladder and prostate infections may make urinating painful or difficult and there may also be kidney problems that could also result in abdominal cramps and urinary difficulties.

Potential

• If left untreated even the mildest case of blastomycosis has the potential to become dangerous. Some of the advanced symptoms of blastomycosis include sharp chest pains, a chronic cough that may be accompanied by a brownish phlegm, a persistent fever that may also create an overall feeling of illness and weakness, stiffness and pain in the joints and muscles and a shortness of breath after any kind of brief physical activity.

Prevention/Solution

• If blastomycosis stays in the lungs, and shows no progressive symptoms, then there may be no further need for treatment. The condition will dissipate on its own in a short period of time. If the condition shows skin symptoms, or the lung symptoms get more severe, then a doctor may prescribe anti-fungal medication to combat the infection. If the condition is starting to attack the nervous system then a more powerful medication called amphotericin B may be used to stop it.

Considerations

• If blastomycosis is treated then there is a very good chance that the person will experience a complete recovery. A relapse is possible, but that can be treated with the same anti-fungal medication that was used to originally treat the condition. If a relapse becomes more severe then there may be another underlying cause, such as an immune deficiency, that is not allowing the body to fight the disease. If blastomycosis is not treated, it has the potential to become fatal.