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Histoplasmosis & Tuberculosis

Histoplasmosis and tuberculosis are diseases that frequently manifest themselves in the lungs and often cause many of the same symptoms. While much is known about tuberculosis, histoplasmosis is far more rare (though this may be due to it being far less deadly). With active tuberculosis, treatment is necessary and must be started quickly. With histoplasmosis, treatment options vary and so does the need.

  1. Histoplasmosis Infection

    • Histoplasmosis infection can manifest itself in five different forms. Asymptomatic means the patient will show no signs of the disease. Acute disseminated form is short lived but is spread beyond the lungs. Acute benign respiratory produces symptoms such as weakness and fever as well as coughing. Chronic disseminated form lasts a long time and includes organs beyond the lungs. Finally, chronic pulmonary is found in people with preexisting lung conditions and its symptoms most closely mirror those of tuberculosis.

    Histoplasmosis Treatment

    • With many forms of histoplasmosis, no treatment will be needed. Even for other forms, treatment may only consist of treating the symptoms, allowing the disease itself to simply die away over time. If the symptoms are severe enough, doctors will likely introduce antifungal drugs to help quicken the eradication of the disease.

    Risk Factors

    • Histoplasmosis is more common with workers in certain occupations. These include people who work primarily with soil, particularly soil that has been contaminated with droppings from birds. Farmers, gardeners and workers in road construction are all at moderate risk of contracting the disease.

    Bacteria

    • Tuberculosis begins with bacteria, while histoplasmosis originates through fungus. Tuberculosis in particular manifests when the bacteria attacks the lungs or other parts of the body such as the kidney or spine. Unlike histoplasmosis, however, TB can prove easily fatal if left untreated.

    Spreading

    • Tuberculosis is a communicable disease, meaning it can be spread from one person to another when in its active state. Histoplasmosis, however, is contracted only through the dust of fungus-infected soil and cannot be transmitted from one individual to another. Coughing and sneezing are the primary ways in which TB can spread.

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