Disease or Syndrome
histoplasmosis
his·to·plas·mo·sis [ his-toh-plaz-moh-sis ]
Subclass of:
Mycoses
Etymology:
Greek histos = web or tissue + plasma = a thing formed + -osis = condition
Hence infection with Histoplasma.
Hence infection with Histoplasma.
Definitions related to histoplasmosis:
-
A disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. It primarily affects the lungs but can also occur as a disseminated disease that affects additional organs. The acute respiratory disease has symptoms similar to those of a cold or flu and it usually resolves without treatment in healthy individuals. The disseminated form is generally fatal if untreated.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
-
An often self-limited infection that is caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, which typically manifests as a flu-like illness, but severe disseminated disease can occur.NICHD Pediatric TerminologyU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
-
Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by a fungus (or mold) called Histoplasma. The fungus is common in the eastern and central United States. It grows in soil and material contaminated with bat or bird droppings. You get infected by breathing the fungal spores. You cannot get the infection from someone else. Histoplasmosis is often mild, with no symptoms. If you do get sick, it usually affects your lungs. Symptoms include feeling ill, fever, chest pains, and a dry cough. In severe cases, histoplasmosis spreads to other organs. This is called disseminated disease. It is more common in infants, young children, older adults, and people with immune system problems. Your doctor might do a variety of tests to make the diagnosis, including a chest x-ray, CT scan of the lungs, or examining blood, urine, or tissues for signs of the fungus. Mild cases usually get better without treatment. Treatment of severe or chronic cases is with antifungal drugs. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
Histoplasmosis is caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum and is consider to be an opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed persons.Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
-
Infection resulting from exposure to the fungus HISTOPLASMA. It is worldwide in distribution and particularly common in the central and eastern states, especially areas around the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
Infection resulting from inhalation or ingestion of spores of the fungus of the genus Histoplasma; worldwide in distribution and particularly common in the midwestern United States.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
-
Histoplasmosis is a pulmonary and hematogenous disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum; it is often chronic and usually follows an asymptomatic primary infection. Symptoms are those of pneumonia or of nonspecific chronic illness. Diagnosis is by identification of the organism in sputum or tissue or use of specific serum and urine...Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
-
Histoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungus that remains in a mycelial form at ambient temperatures and grows as yeast at body temperature in mammals. Infection causes histoplasmosis.WebMD, 2019
-
Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by breathing in spores of a fungus often found in bird and bat droppings. The infection is most commonly spread when these spores are inhaled after taking to the air, such as during demolition or cleanup projects.Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
-
Histoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum . It is not communicable from person to person but is acquired from inhalational exposure to infectious spores found in soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings. African histoplasmosis is a different clinical entity and will not be discussed here.Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
-
Histoplasmosis, infection with the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, occurring in humans and other animals. The disease is contracted by the inhalation of dust containing spores of the fungus. H. capsulatum prefers moist, shady conditions and is found in woods, caves, cellars, silos, and old chicken...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
Return to OpenMD Medical Dictionary
> H
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.