Blastomycosis overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Blastomycosis is a fungal infection caused by the organism Blastomyces dermatitidis. Endemic to portions of North America, blastomycosis causes clinical symptoms similar to histoplasmosis.[1] Only about half of people who have infection usually develop disease. The symptoms if at all, develop between 3 to 15 weeks after exposure and are similar to a flu like illness. [2]
Historical Perspective
Blastomycosis was first described by Thomas Casper Gilchrist [2] in 1894 and sometimes goes by the eponym Gilchrist's disease [3]. It is also sometimes referred to as Chicago Disease.
Pathophysiology
Infection occurs by inhalation of the fungus from its natural soil habitat. Once inhaled in the lungs, they multiply and may disseminate through the blood and lymphatics to other organs, including the skin, bone, genitourinary tract, and brain. The incubation period is 30 to 100 days, although infection can be asymptomatic.
Diagnosis
Laboratory Findings
Once suspected, the diagnosis of blastomycosis can usually be confirmed by demonstration of the characteristic broad based budding organisms in sputum or tissues by KOH prep, cytology, or histology.
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Itraconazole given orally is the treatment of choice for most forms of the disease. Cure rates are high, and the treatment over a period of months is usually well tolerated. Amphotericin B is considerably more toxic, and is usually reserved for critically ill patients and those with central nervous system disease.
Primary Prevention
Avoiding travel to areas where the infection is known to occur may help prevent exposure to the fungus, but this may not always be possible.
References
- ↑ Ryan KJ; Ray CG (editors) (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology (4th ed. ed.). McGraw Hill. pp. pp.676&ndash, 8. ISBN 0838585299.
- ↑ "CDC - Symptoms of Blastomycosis". Retrieved 22 November 2013.