What is histoplasmosis?

Most people don't have symptoms. But the infection can make you feel like you have the flu. You may have a fever, a cough, chills, chest pain, a headache, and fatigue.

Symptoms usually get better on their own within several weeks. Severe infections may last longer. In some cases, the infection may go away but come back years later.

In people who have a weakened immune system, the infection may spread from the lungs to other organs, such as the brain.

Most people recover from a mild infection without treatment. Antifungal medicines may be used if the infection is severe, doesn't go away, or has spread from the lungs to other organs. You may take medicines for months or up to a few years.

Your doctor will do a physical exam. The doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and past health. The doctor may ask about your activities or places you've traveled that could have raised your risk of getting the infection.

You may have tests to check for infection. These include:

• Blood or urine tests.
• Imaging tests, such as a chest X-ray or a CT scan of the lungs.
• A fluid or tissue sample (biopsy). In more severe cases, a sample may be taken from the lungs or respiratory tract or from the fluid that normally surrounds the spinal cord.

Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by a type of fungus (or mold). It most often affects the lungs. In the United States, the fungus is most common in central and eastern parts of the country. It's often found in the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys, but it can be found in other places.

A person can get histoplasmosis by breathing in the spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. This fungus often grows in soil that contains bat or bird droppings. You can get infected if you're in an area where the fungus lives, especially if you're doing something that stirs up contaminated soil.