ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — A fungus is spreading across the country causing a debilitating and deadly lung infection called histoplasmosis. Once thought to only impact areas around the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys. Now, new research shows that it’s popping up in every single state. The worst part, it could go misdiagnosed for years.
John Meyer says, “It was everything. It was more than I thought it was gonna be.”
For 25 years John Meyer lived and breathed fire fighting. Until something he breathed in while on the job almost destroyed him.
John says, “I was at a fire and I was inside and I was pulling ceilings down.”
Local doctors said it was his gall bladder. Then he was told – lung cancer.
Mary Meyer says, “You always described it as like your body felt like it was crushed.”
Finally, a team at Washington University School of Medicine diagnosed John with histoplasmosis. A fungal infection caused by breathing in spores from fungi – often caused by bat guano.
Andrej Spec, MD, Specialist in Fungal Infections at Washington University School of Medicine says, “It’s one of the most understudied diseases in infections.”
Researchers found that the fungus histoplasma has expanded from here – to here! Outdated maps, lead to outdated information. Up to 90 percent of people are first misdiagnosed.
“I’ve seen patients misdiagnosed with really everything from rheumatoid arthritis to lupus.” Says Doctor Spec.
John was treated with antifungal medicine and an oral medication called itraconazole. Six years later – john still says he’s only back to 50 percent of what he was.
But for Mary—just having John here—is enough.
Mary says, “I am so happy and blessed that he’s still here, because at times we didn’t think he would make it.”
Sudden weight loss is a key sign of histoplasma — as well as low blood counts in white and red cells and in the platelets. Also, patients can experience pericarditis, where their heart has trouble beating.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Roque Correa, Videographer, Bob Walko, editor.
DEADLY SPORES: A FUNGUS AMONG US
REPORT #3079
BACKGROUND: Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by the inhalation of spores from the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. It is a common respiratory disease that primarily affects the lungs but can also spread to other parts of the body. Histoplasmosis is found in certain regions worldwide, with a higher prevalence in areas with specific environmental conditions. Histoplasma capsulatum grows in soil that contains bird or bat droppings, especially in areas with high nitrogen content. When the contaminated soil is disturbed, such as during construction or renovation work, the fungal spores become airborne, and individuals can inhale them. The spores are tiny and can reach the deeper parts of the lungs, where they can cause an infection. The severity of histoplasmosis can range from mild to severe, depending on various factors such as the amount of exposure, the individual’s immune system, and underlying health conditions. Rapid weight loss, low blood count, and trouble breathing are all signs of Histoplasmosis.
THE STUDY: Often, Histoplasmosis can be misdiagnosed as lung cancer or lung related and breathing diseases. Like many other medical conditions, it can be misdiagnosed due to its diverse range of symptoms and the similarities it shares with other respiratory illnesses. Several factors contribute to misdiagnosis, including the rarity of the disease in certain regions, the non-specific nature of its symptoms, and the need for specialized tests to confirm the infection. Patient John Meyer was exposed to many dangerous toxins as a fire fighter and was told he had lung cancer. After losing over 60 pounds and a lot of pain, John was treated by doctors from Washington State University with an anti-fungal medication and an oral medication called Itraconazole.
(Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9310261/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1797635/
NEW REGULATIONS: It is recommended to do the best you can to avoid any areas that may contain exposure to Histoplasmosis, especially if you are an at-risk patient. Activities to avoid include but are not limited to creating dust when working around surface soils, cleaning chicken coops, acting invasively with areas that contain high levels of bird and bat droppings, and cleaning, remodeling, or exploring abandoned building and areas that are demolished. New therapies and oral medications such as prophylaxis with itraconazole at a 200 mg daily dose are being administered and tested. The primary prophylaxis can be disregarded in patients who are on antiretroviral therapy and can be discarded once CD4 counts are higher than the given cell count for six months.
* For More Information, Contact:
Judy Martin Finch
Diane Duke Williams
Free weekly e-mail on Medical Breakthroughs from Ivanhoe. To sign up: http://www.ivanhoe.com/ftk
