Blastomycosis is an infection involving the lungs that is caused by the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. The spores of blastomyces gain access to the body via the airways once the spores are breathed in. The condition mainly affects the lungs but it can occasionally spread throughout the bloodstream to affect other parts of the body, usually the skin.
Men aged 20-40 years are usually infected. The condition might also be common and severe among those who have weakened immune systems.
Indications of blastomycosis
Oftentimes, blastomycosis of the lungs does not trigger any symptoms or cause symptoms that subside rapidly and not even recognize.
Once the symptoms manifest, they can occur abruptly or gradually such as fever, chills and drenching sweats. Difficulty breathing, chest pain and hacking cough that may or may not bring up sputum can also develop. Remember that the lung infection typically progresses in a slow manner but some eventually get better without treatment. In some individuals, the infection rapidly develops.
If the condition spreads, it can affect various parts of the body but the usual sites include the following:
- Bones
- Skin
- Brain and its tissue lining
- Reproductive and urinary tracts
When the skin is involved, it starts as small, elevated bumps that might contain pus. The warty, elevated patches that develop are surrounded by small-sized, painless collections of pus.
The tissues over the infected bones can become painful and swollen. Among men, the coiled tube over the testes can swell which results to pain or infection of the prostate gland that causes discomfort.
The fungi are also capable of spreading to the tissues that covers the brain and the spinal cord, resulting to fungal meningitis. Take note that this infection can trigger confusion and headaches.
How is it diagnosed
The doctor will diagnose blastomycosis by sending out a sample of the sputum or infected tissue to the laboratory for analysis and culture. A chest X-ray is also requested to check for indications of infection in the lungs.
The doctor might also require a urine sample to check for the presence of proteins released by the fungus.
Management
In severe cases of blastomycosis, it is treated using amphotericin B which is administered intravenously. For mild to moderate cases, itraconazole is given orally.
With prompt treatment, an individual starts to feel better relatively quickly but the drug should be continued for 6-12 months. If not treated, blastomycosis steadily worsens and might even result to death.